new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section to section 216B.024, the
following terms have the meanings given.
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new text begin (b) "Directly meter" means a device, installed by a utility in one or more units in a
multifamily residential building, that:
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new text begin (1) is owned, read, and maintained by a utility;
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new text begin (2) measures electricity or natural gas consumption in a tenant's dwelling unit; and
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new text begin (3) constitutes the basis for a utility to directly bill a tenant.
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new text begin (c) "Landlord" has the meaning given in section 504B.216, subdivision 1.
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new text begin (d) "Single-metered residential building" has the meaning given in section 504B.216,
subdivision 1.
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new text begin (e) "Submeter" means a meter in a single-metered residential building that is owned by
a landlord and installed by the landlord or by a third party at the landlord's request, and that
measures electricity or natural gas consumption solely within an individual dwelling unit
in the building.
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new text begin (f) "Submetering" means installing or using a submeter and charging or billing the tenant
for utility service separately from rent.
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new text begin (g) "Tenant" means a person who is occupying a dwelling unit in a residential building
under a lease or contract, whether oral or written, and all other regular occupants of the
tenant's dwelling unit.
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new text begin (h) "Third-party billing agent" means a person or entity other than the property owner
that handles utility billing and collections, submeter readings, and any other utility
management services at a single-metered residential building.
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new text begin (i) "Utility" means a public utility, a municipal utility, or a cooperative electric
association.
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new text begin (j) "Utility service" means electricity or natural gas.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Election. new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding section 216B.02, subdivision 4, a landlord of a
single-metered residential building may elect to become subject to the commission's authority,
as provided in this section to section 216B.024.
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new text begin (b) A landlord who does not elect to become subject to the commission's authority is
prohibited from submetering.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Registration; fee. new text end

new text begin (a) A landlord who elects to be subject to the commission's
authority must register with the commission by submitting registration on a form developed
by the commission. The registration form must contain:
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new text begin (1) the name of the landlord and, if any, the property manager and third-party billing
agent;
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new text begin (2) the physical address of the landlord, which must not be a post office box, and the
landlord's telephone number and email address;
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new text begin (3) the residential building or buildings owned or operated by the landlord that are
submetered or that the landlord intends to submeter, including the number of units in each
building; and
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new text begin (4) any other information the commission deems necessary.
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new text begin (b) A landlord who elects to be regulated by the commission must pay an initial
registration fee and an annual registration fee thereafter. The initial and annual fees must
be established by the commission and must be sufficient to cover the commission's costs
to implement this section to section 216B.024. Failure to pay the fee results in temporary
suspension or permanent termination, as determined by the commission, of the landlord's
right to bill tenants for utility service measured through a submeter.
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