LOS ANGELES, April 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of mobile home parks across Southern California are eligible to participate in a voluntary statewide pilot program which upgrades natural gas systems from master meters to direct utility service for each park resident. But while SoCalGas covers to-the-meter costs and reimburses mobile home park owners for some beyond-the-meter costs, park owners may need help to cover other costs of the program. Now, Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County, together with Pacific Premier Bank (Irvine, California), is providing funding to mobile home park owners to support the program's beyond-the-meter costs.
The mobile home park utility upgrade program is intended to enhance safety and reliability for residents, and allows them to sign up for programs that can help them save energy and money as direct utility customers. Park owners also benefit because they can turn system maintenance and billing over to SoCalGas.
The Mobile Home Park Upgrade Loan Program provides the necessary financing needed to convert master-metered service to direct service for each mobile home resident of the park. "These upgrades will save time and effort for mobile home park owners because the service will be provided directly to the resident plus an added public safety benefit to residents in terms of the upgraded infrastructure," said Michael A. Ocasio, President/CEO of Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County (SBDCOC). "We are proud to offer this financing conduit that ensures little risk to the owner for making these upgrades."
"SoCalGas is very pleased to work with SBDCOC," said Eugene "Mitch" Mitchell, vice president of legislative and external affairs for SoCalGas and San Diego Gas & Electric. "The additional options available to mobile home park owners will help move this program forward and work to meet the goals set by the California Public Utilities Commission."
The Mobilehome Park Utility Upgrade Program is a voluntary, three-year statewide pilot program approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and monitored by the commission's Safety Enforcement Division. The CPUC approved the pilot program in March 2014.
For more information about the Mobilehome Park Utility Upgrade Program, please visit socalgas.com/stay-safe/safety-and-prevention/mobilehome-park-utility-upgrade-program.
About Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County
Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County is a quasi-public private non-profit organization that has been serving Orange County and Southern California region for over 15 years. The organization works with small businesses, commercial banks, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI's) and various resource partners to assist small businesses with access to capital. It accesses capital through programs like the California Small Business Loan Guarantee Program, and the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SBCCI) to help small businesses and communities of greater need to succeed. Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County is one of nine Financial Development Corporations in California that are a part of the Governor's Office of Business & Economic Development (GoBIZ), under the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank).
About SoCalGas
Southern California Gas Co. has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 145 years. It is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 21.6 million consumers connected through 5.9 million meters in more than 500 communities. The company's service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border. Southern California Gas Co. is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Co.