MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Corvias Military Living, the base property management firm, recently sent a few residents living on base housing mock utility bills as part of a newly implemented program to help the Air Force “Go Green.”
The Department of Defense implemented the program about a year ago and McConnell will officially join the program February 2017.
The first “live bills” will be sent out February with January utilities usage on it. The residents who use more than the average household will be required to pay the difference. Those who are below the average line in energy consumption will be eligible for a rebate.
“The Resident Energy Conservation Program’s goal is to reduce energy usage which will benefit both the resident and the environment,” said Brandy VanVickle, Corvias business director. “The money saved will be used to improve existing homes and community facilities.”
The first set of bills were sent out at the end of November, but not everyone will be receiving “mock bills.” The bills have been sent to all metered homes except and those living on Paits and Spicer Street to let the residents know how much energy they are currently consuming.
To determine the average household’s utility usage, homes were grouped by number of floors, bedrooms, square feet and the year built. Family size was not considered a factor in the grouping of homes.
“Simply stated, if a member consumes more than the baseline average, then the resident will be charged,” VanVickle added. “If the residents use less, they will be rewarded.”
"The new policy empowers residents in privatized housing to manage their energy consumption," Jennifer Miller, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, said in a statement. "The intent has always been to promote energy conservation by rewarding residents with less-than-average energy consumption through rebates. The new policy allows the Air Force to better meet that intent."