SoCalGas continues to uphold its commitment to building the cleanest, safest, and most innovative energy infrastructure company in America through the Mobilehome Park Utility Conversion Program. The Program is designed to increase the safety and reliability of energy delivery systems by modernizing infrastructure at mobilehome parks throughout Southern California. SoCalGas hosted resident forums at 23 mobile home park communities throughout our service territory in the first half of 2023, reaching 2,113 households.
Residents from each mobile home park were invited to attend these informational sessions, where they received comprehensive details on the program, the construction process, customer assistance programs available at SoCalGas, and how to sign up as a direct customer. Safety is a critical aspect of the Mobilehome Park Utility Conversion Program. SoCalGas highlighted important safety information and resources with residents, who will become new customers, and park operators during each session. Details about how to sign up for various financial assistance programs available to SoCalGas customers such as California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE) and SoCalGas’ Gas Assistance Fund, were also provided to the residents. In addition, these forums provide opportunities for park communities to interact with SoCalGas project teams and contractors who offer support throughout the conversion process.
Prior to the Mobilehome Park Utility Conversion Program, most mobile home parks relied on privately-owned natural gas infrastructure that was costly and challenging for park management to maintain safely and efficiently. This program replaces these outdated systems with new, SoCalGas-owned systems, providing residents with safer and more reliable energy, while reducing the financial burden and maintenance responsibilities for park owners. Furthermore, park owners will no longer need to read utility meters, bill residents, or handle utility-related queries or concerns. Each mobile home will have their own individual resident advanced meter, which allows them to manage their usage and save money.
The 23rd resident forum of 2023 was held at Daisy Hill Estates in Los Osos in San Luis Obispo County, which has 139 mobile homes. “Daisy Hill Estates is proud to participate in this Program and to be able to provide a safer experience to our residents,” stated Darrell Kraft, Board of Directors President and an owner at Daisy Hill Estates. “As an owner of the park, I am also looking forward to saving time and money as SoCalGas will be servicing the system directly.”
“The Mobilehome Park Utility Conversion Program is a great example of how SoCalGas is committed to safety,” said Scott Jacobsen, Distribution Capital Projects & Execution Manager. “By replacing the aging park-owned systems and servicing the new infrastructure ourselves, we can uphold our dedication to safety and reliability for the park residents, as well as provide other benefits such as financial assistance programs and data to monitor their usage.”
Since the Mobilehome Park Utility Conversion Program started in 2014, SoCalGas has upgraded infrastructure and enhanced safety at more than 23,500 mobile homes in more than 320 mobile home communities throughout SoCalGas’ service territory. Due to the program’s success, the CPUC established it as a ten-year, ongoing program, authorizing SoCalGas to upgrade up to half of the approximately 132,000 mobile homes in its territory to direct utility service through 2030.
More information on the Mobilehome Park Utility Conversion Program can be found at socalgas.com/mobilehome.
