Cal. Civ. Code § PSC 113.0802
Measuring customer service.
Operative Text
PSC 113.0802 Measuring customer service. (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), all energy sold to customers shall be measured by commercially acceptable measuring devices owned and maintained by the utility. All other electrical quantities which the rates or utility’s rules indicate are to be metered shall be metered by commercially acceptable instruments owned and maintained by the utility. (2) For temporary or special installations where it is impractical to meter loads, such as certain highway or area lighting which may be billed at a flat rate based on lamp rating and use, the consumption may be calculated. (3) The metering and wiring in nontransient, multi-dwelling-unit residential buildings, mobile home parks and commercial establishments where individual unit metering is provided, or required under the provisions of s. PSC 113.0803, shall be so installed or arranged so that each customer or tenant is metered for his or her own consumption only. Energy used by common area loads, for example, hallway lighting and heating, shall be separately metered and billed as appropriate under the utility’s filed tariff. (4) Utilities shall inspect existing properties for jointly metered service where a tenant reasonably suspects that he or she is being billed for significant usage (e.g., furnace, water heater, etc.) that is serving more than one rental dwelling unit. The utility may bill the property owner for such an inspection. See s. 196.643, Stats.
Wisconsin Administrative Code § PSC 113.0802 establishes rules for how utilities must measure energy consumption for customers. As a general matter, utilities are required to use commercially acceptable metering devices that they own and maintain, though calculated billing is permitted for certain temporary or special installations like flat-rate area lighting. In multi-unit residential buildings and similar settings, metering must be arranged so that each tenant is billed only for their own consumption, with common-area energy use separately metered and billed. Utilities are also obligated to inspect properties for jointly metered service when a tenant reasonably suspects they are being billed for energy serving more than one unit.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § PSC 113.0802, property owners and managers of multi-unit residential buildings, mobile home parks, and commercial establishments are expected to ensure that metering is installed or arranged so that each tenant's consumption is measured individually. Common-area loads—such as hallway lighting or shared heating systems—must be separately metered and billed under the utility's filed tariff rather than passed through to individual tenants. Operators should also be aware that if a tenant raises a reasonable suspicion of jointly metered service, the utility has authority under § PSC 113.0802(4) to conduct an inspection and may bill the property owner for the cost of that inspection.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section PSC 113.0802 gives tenants in Wisconsin a meaningful protection: each tenant in a multi-unit building is entitled to be metered and billed only for their own energy consumption, not for shared or neighboring units' usage. If a tenant reasonably suspects they are being charged for significant energy use—such as a furnace or water heater—that serves more than one rental unit, § PSC 113.0802(4) provides that the utility must inspect the property for jointly metered service upon that reasonable suspicion. Tenants who believe this provision is being violated may consider contacting their utility directly, reaching out to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, or consulting a tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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