FORT BENNING, Ga. - Mock billing for residents of McGraw, Patton and Upatoi villages started Monday.
These are the first Fort Benning communities to participate in the Army's Resident Utility Direct Pay Program, part of Live Army Green Program, aimed at promoting energy conservation, said Keith Lovejoy, the Residential Communities Initiative asset manager.
The Office of the Secretary of Defense and Department of the Army mandated the program to conserve natural resources and reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, to reinvest energy savings into housing projects for improved housing renovations, community centers, playgrounds, resident activities, etc., and reward Soldiers for their successful contribution to the conservation effort.
Housing, the Villages of Benning and Ista North America, the third-party company that handles the billing, will monitor residential electrical consumption and Ista North America will send out the conservation statement, also known as the mock bill.
According to www.ista-direct.com, the mock billing period is used to ensure the program is fair and equitable to all residents. There will be no monthly charges during the monitoring phase.
Actual billing will begin in three to six months after the first conservation statement.
Residents can access their account 24 hours a day via the resident portal at www.ista-direct.com. This Web site will have more information on the mock billing program.
When actual billing begins, residents who conserve may receive a credit or rebate and those who exceed their baseline may be responsible for paying for the excess utility consumption, as reported in the Jan. 8 edition of The Bayonet.
COL Thomas Macdonald, garrison commander, said these conservation efforts support the Army's Energy Management Program - to reduce demand, increase efficiency, seek alternative sources, and create a culture of energy accountability while sustaining or enhancing operational capabilities.
"As we modernize our infrastructure on Fort Benning, we will maximize utility and energy conservation and improve energy flexibility saving taxpayer dollars," Macdonald said.
"It's win-win."
Why go green'
Conservation is not only the way of the future but energy conservation is good for your community. Millions of dollars are spent annually at Army installations for residential utilities. By conserving, more funds can be allocated for enhancements such as new playgrounds or home energy-efficiency upgrades.
What is a monthly conservation statement'
Under the Army's RCI Resident Conservation Program, you receive a monthly conservation statement from a third-party utility billing company. These statements will include your meter readings, the amount of your consumption and where you stand (including your buffer) in relation to your established baseline.
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