APACHE JUNCTION, AZ – Several residents of a mobile home park in Apache Junction tell ABC15 they have been without power for a month.
Monica Jones said the power went out at Arizuma Country Estates in July when a multimeter box caught fire.
“In hindsight, I should have just packed up and moved the first week, but that was my home and I didn’t want to do that,” Jones said.
It took Jones three weeks of heat before she was finally able to drive her RV off the property, which she says will be paid off throughout the month.
“If there was electricity soon, I would have stayed here. I love it here,” Jones said.
Jones said repairs began about a week and a half after the outage but did not continue until mid-August.
Another resident, Crystal, had to leave her home and stay with a friend. The thermometer in her apartment read 40 degrees Celsius.
“I’ve been told if I don’t like it, I can pack up and leave. They don’t understand that it’s not that easy. I’m a single mother and a widow on top of that,” Crystal said. “Financially, mentally, emotionally, everything. It’s not easy. But I have no choice.”
The situation led to costly interim solutions for the residents.
“I have insurance, but the cost of a motel room isn’t even covered up front,” Jones said. “I’m raising a teenager who has a disability, and I didn’t have the money to pay for that at all.”
The city of Apache Junction expressed “deep concern for the affected residents.”
The City issued a permit for emergency repairs on July 31, has been in contact with contractors and SRP, and has sent a notice to the property owner requiring them to correct the problem by August 27.
“We remain prepared to assist the Attorney General’s Office in its ongoing investigation into this matter if necessary,” the city said in a statement. “For us, the safety and well-being of our residents has no higher priority, and we will continue to take all available measures to ensure a speedy resolution.”
The Arizona Department of Housing and Urban Development (ADOH) encourages mobile home residents who believe their landlord is contributing to an infrastructure problem or is not acting quickly enough to file a Landlord Tenant Act (LTA) petition with ADOH online.
SRP said the damage occurred on the customer’s equipment side. “Once we are notified that all repairs are complete, we will be on-site to conduct an inspection and restore power as quickly as possible.”
The Arizona Attorney General’s office said it could not comment on possible investigations, but that renters could file a consumer complaint with their office.
ABC15 has made several attempts to reach park owners by phone and email to update them on the status of repairs.
The park manager said in an email that she would “no longer communicate with any media…”
ABC15 has also reached out to Manufactured Housing Communities of Arizona, which represents community park owners statewide, and is awaiting a response.
