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Getting a "charge" out of your HOA

Started by SusanM22 • 11 replies • 1753 views

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SusanM22 (Florida)
Posts: 154
Posted:
California takes the lead

http://www.sustainableindustries.com/articles/2013/10/getting-charge-out-your-homeowners-association#!
SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699
Posted:
California is giving away more free money, surprise, surprise.

What budget? We have a budget?
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062
Posted:
I honestly don't think that a law is required to have Assocaitions approve a members request to install a charging station. I really haven't heard of it being an issue.

I think that it's once again, lobbyists doing there job without the consideration on any issues that may affect others.

For example: I live in a town home community where parking is assigned on a common area parking lot. Having charging stations could result in the appearance of what looks like parking meters along the sidewalks, which doesn't really help the aesthetics of the issue.

Now, we do have one member who does have an electric vehicle. Since his assigned space is close enough to his property, we have allowed him to use an extension cord providing the cord is covered up with a rubber mat where it crosses the sidewalk.

If we were in CA, this new law would force us to allow the member to install a charging station instead of working out this compromise.

In reality, for a development such as ours, I suspect that the member may have sticker shock for permits, running of conduit, repair of sidewalks, etc. so a charging station can be installed in their assigned spot. This sticker shock could be greater for those who don't have an assigned spot as near to their property as others have.

Good intentions being pushed through by lobbyists without actually looking at the entire issue.
JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265
Posted:
As I read the linked article, I say it is sort of like TV dishes and solar panels. It says the HOA cannot stop one from installing such but I believe the HOA could "control/set standards" how it is done. It is a wave of the future and a smart HOA will get out ahead of the curve thus being able to control it versus be at ones mercy.

I can see it now. My HOA will not allow me to plugin my electric car. Quick, call the Green Party, tree huggers, the local news outlet (JM), etc.

Tim

Personally I would have issues with one running an extension cord across/on common property. Granted, it might have been a quick fix but not one I would approve of due to safety and insurance issues.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By JohnC46 on 10/30/2013 2:28 PM
Tim

Personally I would have issues with one running an extension cord across/on common property. Granted, it might have been a quick fix but not one I would approve of due to safety and insurance issues.

Well, the cost for installing a station was too much for them. This was a compromise and the owner signed papers agreeing to all liability.

I work with cables all the time in my business. There are mats that are designed to go over cables that eliminate the trip hazard and provide a fair measure of safety. This is the type of mat we required.

I do agree with you, this will be something that is an issue that Associations will eventually have to face and it's better to adopt policies and standards now than when you're forced to do so by legislatures or legal action.
CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563
Posted:
I believe that you've read CA Civil Code 1393 correctly, John46. If someone has a "designated" space out in the hinterlands of their HOA premises, they can choose to pay for/install the electricity, etc. for a charger. The HOAs aren't forced to pay for anything. Note, it appears that this doesn't apply to HOAs with unassigned parking.

The law's been in effect since 1/12 so it's not exactly "news," Susan. There already have been some adjustments, I think. Is your interest in this topic because you drive an EV? Or because you expect such legislation in your home states? Or?

Owners may install electricity & a charging station at my HOA's deeded underground parking space(s), but it will cost them quite a lot. So the few EV owners here opt to charge at the plentiful sites in our dense urban area. CA developers, of course, are now building new projects with EV charging stations, including the developer of our 12-y.o. high rise.

I'm not sure what Steve's remark means??
LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By SteveM9 on 10/30/2013 1:31 PM
California is giving away more free money, surprise, surprise.

What budget? We have a budget?

Steve,

I lived in the Land of Fruits and Nuts for two years before fleeing back to the United States. California has no money. The charging station thing works like this: the state wants you to spend your money on their idea to make us all feel better.

Electric cars are based on a faulty premise that they do not pollute. The fact is that the pollution is merely transferred to the electric plant. Someday L.A. will have clean air while the Grand Canyon will be permanently smogged in by the Four Corners Generating Station.

BTW, while I lived there one ballot proposition was to require every school district to budget a minimum of $5,000 per year per kindergarten school. If passed, the law would have made it a felony to budget any less. Kind of silly but I do get a smirk thinking about my kindergarten teacher being hauled off in handcuffs.
SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699
Posted:
Quote:
I'm not sure what Steve's remark means??


Quote from the article:
"The state has turned to tax incentives, grants, and new laws to facilitate the development of the new charging system"

Free money!
RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 1,767
Posted:
"California takes the lead "

Oh no, not again.
DaveD3 (Michigan)
Posts: 796
Posted:
Some of us can only dream of a life unencumbered by reality.
SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699
Posted:
Quote:
California has no money. The charging station thing works like this: the state wants you to spend your money on their idea to make us all feel better.


When you say your money, you mean tax dollars?

Charging Station Grants/Incentives:
$15 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Dept of Energy Transportation Electrification Initiative.

Tax dollars

$3.4 million in funding from the California Energy Commission

Tax dollars

LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099
Posted:
Steve,

I have never seen a government give-away program without costly strings.

In this case, before you even begin construction, you will need an environment impact study. That must be prepared by a state-licensed environmental studyist. You will pay through the nose for this.

Then you will need building permits. Since building permits are one of local governments' few sources of income, bring lots of cash and open your wallet wide.

In addition to the buiding permit fees, you will also need to pay the impact fee. All new construction requires payment of impact fees to help cover the additional costs of more roads, more water lines, and more sewers. The fact that the electric charging station impacts none of those things does not matter. Pay the cashier.

Since the average person cannot figure which end of the shovel to dig with, all work must be done by a licensed contractor. Again, bring lots of cash and open your wallet wide.

Now you think you are done, right? Not so fast! Your application for the grant money must be prepared by a certified public account, witnessed by all the Pope's children, and delivered in person to the agency office in Sacramento on Tuesday between 1:00 and 1:15PM.

Six months later the agency will inform you that even though you did everything correctly and qualified for the grant money, all the grant money had already been paid out before you began.

Yeah, nothing like free money.

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