Pinnacle addresses utility concerns

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
Dover Air Force Base, Del. --  Starting in 2009, Eagle Heights housing residents began to pay utility bills directly to Chesapeake Gas and Dover Electric.

The utility bill changes are similar to how members residing off base pay utilities, said Chris Radziewicz, Pinnacle Housing director.

"It's a much easier way for everyone involved," Mr. Radziewicz said. "It gets the bills to the residents in real time and if people conserve their energy they will not have to wait for ISTA to pay them back, they will have that money instantly."

In an effort to answer questions and concerns, Pinnacle Housing associates continue to hold community meetings. Additionally, Mr. Radziewicz, recently participated in a question-and-answer session with The Airlifter staff. Here is what he said:

Q. Will military members now receive their Basic Allowance for Housing in their monthly pay and be responsible for paying their own rent and utilities?
A. Residents of Eagle Heights will not receive their full BAH; they will receive the portion of their BAH designated for utilities. This amount will be dispersed between the 1st and 15th paychecks.

Q. Can a direct deposit be established or will all members need to pay their rent with checks?
A. An allotment was and still is the preferred method for rent payment. Allotments are setup by our management staff at the time a lease is signed. With the introduction of direct utility billing, residents will see where only the rent portion of the BAH was withdrawn, leaving the resident's utility allowance.

Q. How will rental amounts be determined?
A. The rental amounts are determined by taking the member's BAH with dependant rate and subtracting the utility allowance, which is based on and varies between housing types. The difference represents the rent.

Q. What are the 'pros' and 'cons' of this new method?
A. Since the utilities are in now the resident's name, responsible bill pay will help their credit scores. On the other hand, residents have to be responsible and not spend their utility money on things other than utilities. Failure to pay can lead to loss of gas and electric service, which is a violation of the lease and can lead to eviction.

Q. What happens if utility companies increase utility rates and BAH doesn't increase accordingly - are there any safety nets in place for junior Airmen or members with very large families and who barely get by, as is?
A. Rate increases are a fact of life that unfortunately affects not just those living on base but those living downtown as well. The utility allowance is based on a five-year rolling average and, as such, is evaluated yearly to see if it is inline with what residents are consuming and spending. We, however, have no control over the billing practices of the utility companies. It is a good idea for residents to bank utility monies they didn't spend through conservation, in the event these companies do raise their rates.

Q. Every resident currently has a baseline utility established for electricity and gas. Will a new baseline be determined prior to rental rates being calculated?
A. The Utility Allowance is determined by the before-mentioned rolling five-year average. The BAH is calculated by the government and we base our rent on subtracting the utility allowance from the BAH.

Q. Will any current amenities residents receive (i.e. community center and fitness center usage, landscaping service, etc.) change or are any planned for change?
A. There are now two neighborhood centers. One is located on Rosewood and Ginkgo, and the other at Circle Drive and Center. They feature a café theme and will have wireless internet capability and big screen televisions. These facilities, like the Community Center, are available for use by all Eagle Heights Residents and are also available for private party usage.

(Demettra Maxwell contributed to this article)