Implications for Other Parks Owned by Hillsboro

The record indicates that Hillsboro owns other master-metered mobilehome parks within the service territories of gas and electric utilities regulated by this Commission. In a prior case where we held that mobilehome park owners, who owned a number of parks within California, had unlawfully assessed surcharges to cover the costs of undergrounding a gas and electric system at one park, we directed the owners to examine their practices at the other parks and make appropriate adjustments. (See Home Owners Association of Lamplighter v. Lamplighter Mobile Home Park (1999) D.99-02-001.) This decision shall also serve as notice to Hillsboro that Los Robles-type treatment of common area expenses and electric pedestals in other rent control jurisdictions may be unlawful. We advise Hillsboro to examine its practices at other parks, amend its future rent control applications where appropriate, and to implement refunds where warranted.