Who is Energy Billing Systems?
Energy Billing Systems, Inc. is the pioneer in Utility Management Services in the USA and provides the military housing privatization industry a one-stop solution through turn-key installation of gas, electric, and water sub-metering and energy allocation equipment.
Who will be reading the utility meters? How often will they be read?
Metering is done electronically to facilitate remote retrieval of accurate and timely data. There is no need for a reader to enter your premises or yard to read the meter on a monthly basis.
How does this program for the U.S. Army work?
In the case of Fort Carson, Balfour Beatty Military Communities, in conjunction with Energy Billing Systems, established an appropriate allowance or baseline for utilities. They conducted "mock billing" for a one-year trial period. During that time, they provided residents with information regarding their consumption and costs compared to the allowance or baseline appropriate for their housing unit. These allowances were established using the Department of Energy (DOE) model and the Average Baseline Model developed over the one year “mock billing” cycle. The DOE provides an industry standard and is based on the average consumption of similar homes in the surrounding community. During the "mock billing" residents were not responsible for paying any overages nor did they receive payments or rebates for savings. During actual billing, residents who conserved at certain levels have had the opportunity to receive a payment or credit; those who did not conserve were required to pay for their excess consumption. The utilities consumption baseline will be adjusted each year according to historical data. Utility usage will also be compared to similar housing off post in the surrounding community.
Why are Soldiers now being held responsible for their utilities?
Personal responsibility means awareness of usage and conservation. Dollars saved through conservation will be utilized for construction of new homes and community facilities; the savings will stay within the military community. If your usage is above the established baseline, only then will you owe money above the baseline amount. You will only have to pay the difference above the baseline amount, not the entire bill amount. If it is below the baseline, you will receive a rebate for the amount below the baseline.
How do Soldiers and their families benefit from this?
Encouraging energy conservation helps residents by allowing more money to go to back into their housing. A large portion of the savings will go directly to improve existing housing and for future building projects. The baseline is below current on-post consumption so the difference will produce savings to the local housing project. The amount below the baseline is the savings amount Soldiers will receive as a rebate.
What is the U.S. Army prepared to do if a Soldier fails to make their utility payment?
The U.S. Army's role regarding payment of bills for on-post housing is the same as if the Soldier lives off-post. The utility provider would use the same measures to collect unpaid bills as they would use for off-post Soldiers.
Will the U.S. Army be the only service that implements this plan?
No. The policy of making service members responsible for utilities is from the Office of the Secretary of Defense. All services are expected to implement this policy.
Will this have any impact on the surrounding community?
There has been no indication of an impact on the local community.
What if there is a harsh winter or excessively hot summer?
Energy costs vary from year to year for all people living both on and off-post. If during a harsh winter energy consumption is higher than the calculated baseline, both on and off-post residents will have to pay additional costs. During a harsh winter or summer, residents will have to pay for the higher consumption out of pocket. The baselines being used consider historical data for the local area for three years prior to the current year, and this should help against unusually harsh weather.
For which utilities are the Soldiers responsible?
Soldiers will be responsible for electricity and gas used. At this time Soldiers are not individually responsible for water or sewer costs or utilities consumed in common areas or vacant houses. Water is metered for consumption data to be used for tracking purposes only.
Who determines if my house is energy efficient?
Both the Army and Balfour Beatty Military Communities must agree on a home being energy efficient enough to participate in the billing program. All new home construction will be Energy Star compliant. Energy Star addresses the household appliances, the actual construction of the home, and its energy-using devices such as water heaters, air conditioners and furnaces. All baselines are set based on specific criteria for each home type, with full consideration for that unit's energy efficient attributes, such as double-paned windows, insulation, foundation type, etc. Baselines for new homes should be lower than baselines for equal sized, older homes.
Do I inform Energy Billing Systems about my move in or move out?
Balfour Beatty Military Communities is responsible for opening and closing your account with Energy Billing Systems. The property manager will advise Energy Billing Systems of all occupancy statuses.
Why are we being billed?
Energy Billing Systems is contracted with your family housing provider (Balfour Beatty Military Communities) to read your meter and report your energy consumption compared to an established baseline. Congress passed the Military Housing Privatization Initiative in 1996, allowing the services to privatize family housing. Guidance published by the Office of the Secretary of Defense in 1998 required service members in privatized housing to be responsible for the utilities they consumed. However, existing post housing had to be renovated for energy efficiency and metered before they could bill for utility consumption. The billing program was established by the Department of Defense to conserve energy and track energy usage. Eventually all military branches will require residents living in privatized housing to be responsible for their energy use.
How is the baseline established?
The utility baseline may be established using one of two methods.
One method is based on a Department of Energy model found at http://hes.lbl.gov/. The model considers 18 variables; including size, age, and construction of the home, type of heating/air conditioning system, water heaters and appliances as well as the settings used for those systems.
The second method is based on an average home profile. The home profile takes these 5 variables into consideration, such as year built, square footage, number of stories, foundation type, and location of unit within a building for multi family units.
During the mock billing phase the actual usage and baseline usage were compared and analyzed and the baselines were validated.
Why is my baseline different from my neighbors?
There are many factors used to determine baselines. The location of a unit within a building can mean a variance between actual energy efficiency. If the end unit of a multi family dwelling uses more energy, then it stands to reason that the middle units that do not have windows in the sides of the house will use less energy. The insulating qualities of different structures play a vital role in the development of the baseline as well. Two houses that have the same square footage, but have different foundations will vary in efficiency.
How do I pay my bill? What payment options do I have? How often will I receive a bill?
At this time the only payment option is by check or money order. Remit payment with the slip enclosed with your bill. It is anticipated that you will be able to pay your bill with a credit or debit card online with Utility TrakR™ starting in February 2007 at www.energybillingsystems.com. Consumption reports are generated once a month. You will receive a report every 30 days.
Does payment go through the installation or to the utility company if I have excessive usage?
The Soldiers are being given a bill that is similar to what they would expect off-post. The utilities will be paid to Energy Billing Systems. Any rebates will be given from Balfour Beatty Military Communities.
Am I billed for street light usage in my neighborhood?
Fort Carson provides all electricity for street lights through a deal between Fort Carson and Balfour Beatty Military Communities.
How do I receive a refund? Who mails the check and when?
Balfour Beatty Military Communities is responsible for mailing all rebate checks. The system utilizes a $15 buffer for debts and credits. If you have an excess of $15 or over the baseline on your bill, you will owe that amount on your monthly bill. If you have less than a $15 excess it will accumulate until you reach the $15 level and then you will be required to remit a payment, but you will only be required to pay the amount over the baseline. If you use $15 or more below the baseline amount then you will receive a rebate check from Balfour Beatty Military Communities by the due date on your bill. If you use less than $15 below the baseline, it will accumulate until you reach the $15 level or more and then you will receive a rebate.
Who do I contact with questions regarding my utility bill?
The Energy Billing Systems Customer Service Department may be reached via e-mail at customerservice@energybillingsystems.com or via phone Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Mountain Time. Our toll-free number is 1-800-637-4242 or 719-632-9100. You can also access your account online with Utility TrakR™ starting in February 2007 at www.energybillingsystems.com.
Give us the breakdown of BAH and how that will help the Soldier with their utility bill.
The Basic Allowance for Housing includes rent, utilities and renters insurance. A portion is set aside for utilities developed using the baseline. Any portion of this that is not used monthly will be credited back to the Soldier if it is within the $15 buffer. Any excessive use over the $15 buffer will be billed to the Soldier.
In what ways can I limit the amount of usage in any given month?
Read our
Conservation Tips to learn more about conserving energy.
How will the Soldier and their family be rewarded for conserving resources?
Conservation will be rebated by direct payment to residents who do an exceptional job of saving energy. The resident will receive a rebate from Balfour Beatty Military Communities in the form of a rebate check. If a resident relocates and is due a credit, a payment will be provided to them at the time of their departure
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