Resident Energy Conservation Program

Historical data shows that Residents in Privatized Housing (military housing) use significantly more KWh per unit per day than residents living in a comparable home outside of the gate. Source: Department of the Navy

How does this program work?

The Resident Energy Conservation Program (RECP) is designed to set reasonable utility usage targets for normal utility consumption in like-type housing units. Atlantic Marine Corps Communities (AMCC) will establish a monthly utility usage target for each home based upon the calculated average monthly.
AMCC will conduct a three month mock billing period at each installation during which information will be provided to residents like you on a mock bill that shows your consumption compared to the usage target for your like-type group homes.During this mock billing period you will not be responsible for any overages on your mock bill nor qualify for any rebates. After the mock billing period ends, you will receive actual consumption statements and will begin accruing credit for refunds if you use less than the utility usage target under the 10% buffer. You will be issued a rebate check when your accrued credit exceeds $25. You may choose to defer the rebate and apply any credited amount towards future payments. You will be responsible to pay for usage above the normal utility usage target set if your usage is above the 10% buffer. Your payment would be for only the amount above the 10% buffer.

How does billing work?

Residents who use less than the lower utility usage buffer will accrue a credit or rebate and residents who use more than the upper utility usage buffer will have a balance due. First there will be a mock billing period to educate you about your consumption compared to the utility usage target for your home. After that period ends, you will receive an actual invoice. Depending on your consumption for the month, this consumption report will show that you have a credit, have to pay the balance due, or have no charge, and will indicate when you will be issued a rebate check or when you need to submit payment of the balance.

What happens if I dont pay on time? Will late payments affect my credit?
Residents with a past due account will receive up to three late notice letters from the billing company on 15-day intervals. AMCC may contact you to work out a payment plan. Since utility bills will be a component of rent, the failure to pay utility bills will be treated as delinquent rent as per your lease. Please refer to your lease on how delinquent rent is treated and for specific actions that will be taken by your property manager for payment delinquencies. One consequence may be that your lease may not be extended if you dont pay your bill. Finally, late payments could affect your credit.

How do I know that my bill is correct?

Your bill will show the actual usage for the period based on information received from your individual home utility meter. If you feel there are inaccuracies on your bill, please contact your property manager for review. Your property manager can perform a preventive maintenance check-up of your home to ensure your home is functioning properly. They can also help you perform an energy use self assessment to see how you can reduce electrical consumption and hopefully earn a credit.

Am I responsible for water?

At this time, the energy conservation efforts focus on electricity. Water is not currently part of the program but we still encourage you to conserve water.

What are the benefits of this program while living with AMCC versus not living with AMCC?
AMCC families actually pay much less per kilowatt hour than counterparts living out in town. AMCC residents pay 7 cents per kilowatt hour vs 12 cents on average out in town. AMCC residents in the RECP will actually receive credit or money back for conserving energy, while that is not an option out in town. AMCCs third party billing provider does not charge taxes or a meter read fee of $8 - $10 per monthly consumption reports.

How and when will I expect a rebate?

Residents whose monthly utilities cost is 10% or more below the monthly usage target will earn a credit or rebate that will be payable when the accumulated rebate exceeds $25. Residents can elect to roll-over savings credits to apply against charges they may accrue in future months.

How do Sailors and Marines and their families benefit from RECP?
Careful conservation of resources through less energy consumption contributes to our nations security and readiness, and takes better care of our fragile ecosystem. Dollars saved through conservation will be put right back into the AMCC project in the form of capital reinvestments such as new housing, renovations, community amenities, quality of life programs, etc. Sailors and Marines will earn rebates if they conserve more electricity than amounts identified in the normal usage band (explained below).

How will this program affect my Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)?
There will be no impact to the BAH allowance.

Isnt a utility allowance already part of my BAH?

Yes. An allowance for normal utilities is a part of the BAH. This program is intended to encourage residents to achieve normal usage and to reward them for conservation beyond normal expectations. If you conserve and use utilities wisely within the normal range, you will have no out-of-pocket utility expense and with a little extra effort could be eligible for a utilities rebate.

My neighbors bill is lower than mine because they have Energy Star/ Saving appliances and I dont. Can I have new appliances to lower my bill and receive a rebate?
No. We account for these differences by setting the 10% plus or minus buffer around the utility usage target.

How is my usage target determined?

Your house will be grouped with other housing units into like-type energy baselines so that utility usage targets are set based on comparable home energy performance. The Monthly Utility Usage Target is calculated every month based on the current months average for like-type housing units. A 10% plus and minus buffer is set around the utility usage target in order to establish the normal usage zone. This buffer accounts for any differences in family size, appliances, etc.

We have two children in our family and live in a 3-BR home. Many of our neighbors do not have children. Will the monthly usage average for our like-type group be skewed?
The 10% buffer is intended to address variances in family size.

What if there is an extremely hot summer/cold winter?

Your utility usage target is established on a monthly basis to account for actual weather changes.

Why did the Department of Navy decide to start RECP after all these years?
Base housing residents use significantly more electricity and gas per day than residents in the community residing in comparable homes. In September 1998, Office of the Secretary of Defense issued a policy for the payment of utilities in Public Private Venture (PPV) housing to encourage a reduction in energy consumption. In support of the Secretary of the Navys energy initiatives, RECP represents the Department of Navys next step toward full implementation of the OSD policy for PPV housing.

Does this program mean I have to pay an electric bill every month?
During the mock billing period, you will receive a mock bill that shows how much electricity you used during the past month and how much you would owe or be owed. During the live billing period you will receive an actual energy consumption statement. You will only pay for electricity and gas (where applicable) if you have excess usage. In other words, if you used more electricity than the normal usage band, you would be charged only for that usage in excess of the normal usage band.

Can I get information about the like-type group Im in?

Yes, your AMCC housing Staff or Military Housing Office can provide you with that information.

If this is a Department of Navy program, do I have to participate if Im in another branch of Service?

All military members, regardless of branch of Service, must sign a lease that requires the resident pay for electricity and gas (if applicable) usage.

Resident Energy Conservation Program

Atlantic Marine Corps Communities and the Department of Navy have an interest and responsibility to conserve natural resources and have designed the RECP to encourage residents to conserve and use utilities wisely and become more responsible for their energy usage and consumption.
This plan is part of a larger Office of the Secretary of Defense program for utilities that all military services in privatized housing will have to adhere to. The RECP is designed to set a reasonable utility allowance target for normal utility consumption. Utility Allowance Targets are set by a buffer line: Homes grouped in like type utility buffer lines based on location, size, and construction type. Neighborhood - Year Built Number of bedrooms and/or square footage If consumption is over a targeted buffer line, you will be responsible for only the amount of over usage. If you are under the buffer line, no further action is required and you could receive a credit back. The first question you might ask is why should I continue to live with Atlantic Marine Corps Communities? You will still enjoy the benefits of living on base with the added benefit of having the opportunity to live in much better quality housing than before privatization. Additionally, on base residents typically pay less for utilities than their off base counterparts since they will only be paying for excess consumption and may actually receive a rebate for conservation efforts. Plus, you live in a community that shares your same values, offers 24 hour, 7 days per week dependable maintenance that you will not find anywhere else, zero out of pocket expenses for deposits or move-in fees for active duty service members and our services like the Deployment Support Program are exceptional.

A Few Conservation Tips

Here are a few tips to help you in your conservation efforts. Find more conservation tips at www.atlanticmcc.com/RECP.
1. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFLs use approximately one-fourth the energy of regular incandescent light bulbs. Changing one 100-watt bulb to an equivalent 26-watt CFL saves 81 kWh and $24.00 per year per bulb based on three hours use per day. 2. Use fans instead of air conditioners. Portable, ceiling, and whole-house fans do not remove heat from a room, but they do provide a cooling effect by circulating air and they consume only a small fraction of the energy used by an air conditioner. Two fans, rather than an 8,000 BTU room air conditioner, running four hours a day, will save over 1,150 kWh and $345 per year 3. Shorten showers. Cutting just two minutes per shower can save up to 1,533 kWh and $460 per year. 4. Wash clothes in cold water. Washing clothes in cold water for just two loads a week can save 225 kWh and $68 per year. 5. Eliminate energy sneakers (phantom loads). Even when turned off, things like cell 5. phone chargers and televisions use energy. Use a power strip to turn off computers (ensure proper logoff), monitors, printers, cell phone chargers, PDAs, camera batteries, etc., all of which use standby power when not in use. By turning off your computer using a power strip, you can save 50 kWh and $15 per year. 6. Turn it off. Get into the habit of turning off lights, televisions, fans, computer equipment, etc. when you leave a room. 7. During warm/summer months, set your thermostat to the warmest comfortable setting. Each degree above 75F saves approximately three percent of the energy used to cool your home. Do the reverse in cold/winter months so you dont overheat your home. 8. Maintain appropriate temperatures in your refrigerator and freezer. Set refrigerator temperatures between 37 and 40F in the refrigerator section and 0F in the freezer section.

Program Information
www.atlanticmcc.com/RECP or Contact Your Local Community Office

Office Information
AMCC Offices in North Carolina 866-509-2424 AMCC Offices in South Carolina 843-846-5300 AMCC Offices in New York 845-787-5638 AMC Office in Massachusetts 413-331-3205