HF2974

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to ensure fair billing practices for tenants living in residential buildings with submetered or apportioned utility services. It mandates landlords to follow specific guidelines regarding the billing process and timelines for utility services.

Main Provisions

• Billing Frequency and Information: Landlords must issue utility bills to tenants at least as frequently as the utility bills the landlord themselves receive. The bills must be based on actual readings, not estimates.

• Detailed Bill Information: Each utility bill must include:

  1. Current and previous submeter readings.
  2. Dates of the meter readings.
  3. Billing rates and amounts.
  4. Taxes and surcharges.
  5. Portion of any utility bill credits passed to tenants.
  6. Any administrative charges.
  7. Total amount due.
  8. Due date and potential late payment charges.

• Payment Timeline: Tenants must have at least 31 days from the issuance date of the utility bill to make a payment.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Prohibition on Apportioning Electricity: The bill explicitly forbids landlords from apportioning electricity costs to tenants.
• Tenant Rights Notification: Landlords must provide tenants with a statement in the lease or separately detailing their rights to request utility billing history.
• Transparency in Apportioned Utilities: Upon request, landlords must provide tenants with access to current and past utility bills related to apportioned services such as natural gas or water and sewer.

Relevant Terms

submetered utility, apportioned utility service, tenant billing, landlord requirements, utility bill transparency, billing frequency, due date extension, tenant rights, electricity apportioning prohibition.