Lincoln Military Housing residents will have an additional month to make adjustments to their energy consumption, as the Marine Corps has extended the Resident Energy Conservation Program’s “mock billing” cycle through April.

The live billing cycle for RECP won’t begin until May 1, a decision that Oscar Almond, head of Quantico's Family Housing Branch, said was made in response to concern from residents after receiving late mock bills in January.

The mock billing cycle was expected to begin Jan. 1 and end April 1, allowing residents to have a full three months to evaluate their consumption habits. But since January’s bill didn’t cover the entire month, the program was pushed out a month — a measure Almond hopes will strengthen customer relations with military families aboard Quantico.

“We want to show residents that Lincoln Military Housing and the government is committed to ensuring families have the enough time to make behavioral adjustments to their household energy usage,” Almond said.

Under the RECP, average energy consumption is calculated each month for each group of similar home models on base. Those whose energy use falls within 10 percent more than average and 10 percent less than average for the month will carry on as if there were no RECP. Those whose energy use exceed the plus or minus 10 percent buffer will be charged the difference. Those who use less than 10 percent below average will be credited.

The aim is for the majority of residents to stay within the buffer or receive a rebate — a goal military housing residents aboard Quantico have already achieved once.

“With January’s [energy] consumption, 40 percent [of Lincoln Military Housing residents] would have received refunds, 28 percent would have been within the buffer, and 31 percent would have been required to make a payment,” Almond said.

RECP is mandated by the Office of the Secretary of Defense as part of an effort to reduce energy consumption across the Department of Defense.

Notice of the mock billing extensions will be included in February’s consumption report, which will be distributed with this month’s billing statement.

Staff Writer: afelton@quanticosentryonline.com