Housing officials remind residents of utility account reconciliation Published Aug. 17, 2007 KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico -- With the summer temperatures reaching their peak, Kirtland Family Housing officials would like to remind base housing residents that the time to reconcile utility accounts is only three months away. Every member's basic housing allowance includes money for rent and utilities. Since not every member uses the exact amount of money allotted for utilities, some members will find themselves owing money to pay the difference or receiving a rebate for conserving on utilities. What this means is that in November, during the True Up or Reconciliation Period, residents will be notified of any balances or rebates due on their utility accounts. The amount of money given to each member for utilities differs from house to house. The initial utility allowance baseline was developed by engineers using Department of Energy models specifically for each type of home. The baseline takes into account the square footage, how the house is oriented to the sun, the type and amount of insulation, and the number and size of the windows. Residents who use less energy than their established baseline average will earn a rebate or credit. Those who exceed their average baseline will be required to pay the difference. To help monitor gas and electric consumption, residents should be receiving a monthly statement from ISTA. This statement helps residents compare how much electricity and gas they're actually using to how much is allotted to that particular house. Residents can also access their utility accounts online by visiting the ISTA Web site at www.ista-direct.com. This site also offers energy saving tips which may help residents identify any unnecessary waste of gas or electricity within the home. Residents are encouraged to contact Kirtland Family Housing at 232-2049 if they have any questions regarding their utility payment or reimbursement.