Electricity Charge for RV tenants in Mobile Home Community?

[Patrick McKenna]

Hello All -

I have a 75 unit mobile home community that is comprised of about 50 MH lots and 25 RV lots. For the RV lots, we currently bear the costs for water, sewer, electric and trash. Historically the costs have not been outrageous, but as we are filling up the spots (and as this winter has been very cold), the electric bill has increased dramatically. I am wondering if anyone has had success charging RV tenants for an "electricity charge" of some sort ... maybe just a flat "$50 charge for electricity hookup and use" ... while not billing them for the actual electricity used, because then I know you are entering a dangerous territory of being deemed a utility company and no one wants that.

Thanks in advance for any ideas and responses!!!

[Ryan Groene]

call around to other MHP's that have RV spaces in there and see what the market is doing.  If they are doing something similar, then do that.  See if they are charging back for utilities.  IF they are then do it as well as long as your market rates for space rent is around the same or below market.  If you are below market in your space rent, you could just charge a higher rate to offset the amount of the utilities.