Cal. Civ. Code § PSC 113.0803
Individual electric meters required for non-transient multi-dwelling unit residential buildings, mobile home parks and for commercial establishments.
Operative Text
PSC 113.0803 Individual electric meters required for non-transient multi-dwelling unit residential buildings, mobile home parks and for commercial establishments. (1) Each dwelling in a multi-dwelling unit residential building or mobile home park constructed after March 1, 1980, shall have installed a separate electric meter for each such dwelling unit. Dwelling unit means a structure or that part of a structure which is used or intended to be used as a home, residence or a sleeping place by one or more persons maintaining a common household and shall exclude transient multi-dwelling buildings and mobile home parks: for example, hotels, motels, campgrounds, hospitals, community-based residential facilities, residential care apartment complexes or similar facilities, nursing homes, college dormitories, fraternities, and sororities. (2) Each tenant space in a commercial building constructed after March 1, 1980 shall have installed a separate electric meter. (4) For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of subs. (1) to (2), individual unit metering will not be required: (a) For a commercial building where the commercial unit space requirements are subject to alteration, as evidenced by temporary versus permanent type of wall construction separating the commercial unit spaces. Examples of temporary wall construction are partition walls which do not extend through the ceiling and walls which do not constitute a code-required fire separation. (b) For electricity used in central heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems. (bm) For a multi-dwelling unit residential building that meets one or more of the following conditions: 1. The electric equipment under tenant control meets established high energy efficiency standards consistent with standards used in a statewide energy efficiency programs under s. 196.374 (2) (a), Stats., federal energy efficiency standards, or other similar energy efficiency standards or programs and the average electric energy use per unit is projected to be less than half of the average monthly residential use per customer in Wisconsin based on the previous five-year average of U.S. energy information administration data, Wisconsin energy statistics, or similar state or federal government data. Onsite energy technologies that offset overall usage shall be factored into usage projections. 2. For a newly constructed building, the building design meets high energy efficiency standards. A building design meets high energy efficiency standards if the developer or owner of the building participates in programming for newly constructed buildings offered through a statewide energy efficiency program under s. 196.374 (2) (a), Stats., or a similar program. 3. The building is under contract with a local, state, or federal affordable housing program. (5) For reasonable cause shown, the commission may grant waivers of this rule on a case-by-case basis. Applications for a waiver must be submitted to the commission in writing and set forth the facts or reasons the applicant believes justify a waiver.
Wisconsin Administrative Code § PSC 113.0803 requires that most multi-dwelling residential buildings and commercial buildings constructed after March 1, 1980, have a separate electric meter installed for each individual dwelling unit or tenant space. Transient facilities such as hotels, dormitories, and nursing homes are excluded from this requirement. Certain exceptions apply, including buildings enrolled in affordable housing programs, buildings meeting high energy efficiency standards, and commercial spaces with flexible or temporary wall configurations. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission may also grant case-by-case waivers upon written application showing reasonable cause.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § PSC 113.0803, operators of multi-dwelling residential buildings and commercial properties built after March 1, 1980 generally ensure that each unit or tenant space is equipped with its own electric meter. Compliant operators review whether their property qualifies for one of the enumerated exceptions—such as participation in a statewide energy efficiency program under s. 196.374(2)(a), Stats., enrollment in an affordable housing program, or the presence of temporary commercial partitioning—before relying on master metering. Operators who believe a waiver is warranted may submit a written application to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission under subsection (5), documenting the facts that support the request.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section PSC 113.0803 establishes that tenants in most residential buildings and commercial spaces constructed after March 1, 1980 have a right to individually metered electricity, which allows them to monitor and control their own energy costs directly. If a tenant believes their building is not in compliance with this individual metering requirement and no recognized exception applies, they may consider contacting the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, which oversees enforcement of this rule. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help residents understand whether their building's metering arrangement is consistent with § PSC 113.0803 and what options may be available.
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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