PSC finds Hope Village qualifies as transient building; individual metering rule does not apply

The Public Service Commission on Feb. 20 found that Hope Village Tiny Housing Alternatives’ newly constructed multi-dwelling building meets the definition of a transient multi-dwelling unit, and the commission voted to find that the individual metering requirements in Wisconsin Administrative Code PSC 113 do not apply in Docket 4220-EI-112.

Chair Strand said the record and the staff memo “clearly demonstrated that this project specifically meets the definition of transient multi dwelling buildings and therefore that the individual metering requirements of Wisconsin Administrative Code section PSC 113.0803(1) do not apply.” The commission adopted the finding by voice vote.

The vote concludes the commission’s consideration of the waiver request itself; commissioners noted the decision makes other decision points in the staff memo moot for this docket. Commissioners also emphasized that a separate, ongoing rulemaking to revise the individual metering rule (PSC 113) remains open and could affect future waiver requests.

Commissioner Nieto urged clarity about which customer-protection rules apply when a single meter serves multiple residential units. “It’s not correct that the commercial service rules apply,” Nieto said, and he asked the commission’s customer affairs staff to follow up with the utility to ensure a common understanding of when…