FORT RUCKER ON-POST HOUSING

MOCK UTILITY BILL ROLLS OUT

NOVEMBER 1, 2008

Information included in the Fort Rucker Relocation Guide

While relocating to FT Rucker late last year, the decision to live on Post was undetermined.  The convenience of living on Fort Rucker was topping our list.  At the time, the BAH rates had not risen.  After evaluating the rental cost, utilities, commuting time and the convenience, living on post seemed to be the better financial alternative.

In Jan. 2008 the BAH rates rose for the FT Rucker area, closing the gap of the better financial alternative. Last week, I received a letter from Picerne Military Housing (the privatized housing management company) that got me to thinking about my alternative housing choice.

The Department of Defense (DOD) has implemented an Energy Savings Program.  This program is plan that encourages residents to be more responsible for natural gas and electric consumption in homes on-post.  The DOD program places the responsibility for the utility consumption on each resident. 

The program will begin with mock billing of Army renovated homes in Allen Heights and newly constructed homes in Munson Heights, but will eventually expand to all newly-constructed and renovated homes on Fort Rucker.  A monthly baseline will be calculated by averaging the consumption of occupied "like homes" in the same neighborhood each month.  The resident's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) will cover the utility consumption up to the baseline.  Those who consumption exceeds the current month's baseline will be billed for the excess consumption above the baseline.  Those who consume less than that month's baseline will earn a rebate. 

$15.00 is the trigger amount.  Once any amount is $15.00 or greater, a bill will be generated or a rebate check will be issued. 

I would have to agree that I have seen residents living on Fort Rucker who do not take steps to conserve our FREE utilities.  After living off-post for many years and paying utilities, it becomes a habit to turn off lights, only run a full load dishwasher and washing machine. I would also have to agree that this responsibility will bring awareness to those who carelessly misuse their consumption of utilities. 

Now, I will have to take another look at: "living on post, the better financial alternative". Will our consumption exceed the baseline?  Will I be paying more than our alotted BAH to live on post? 

By living on post we gave up the updated living standards in exchange for cost and convenience.  Now, with the uncertainties of the utility bills our cost factor might get bumped from the list.  Convenience VS Updated living standards.....that is what I am looking at!  Which would you choose?

 Currently our BAH gets us this:

Military Spouse Relocation Specialist

Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed