Home fuels bridges gap between U.S., Italian utilities service Published Oct. 19, 2012 By Staff Sgt. Ryan Whitney 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- There are many things Airmen have to get accustomed once they arrive in Italy like paying with coupons at gas stations, doing quick math calculations when paying for items in euro, driving the speed limit in kilometers, and working with Italian utility companies to heat and cool Italian homes. Fortunately, there is an organization at Aviano dedicated to bridging the gap between the expected service quality Airmen may have grown accustomed to in the United States and the way utility companies operate in their new residence. The home fuels program, operated by the 31st Force Support Squadron, is unique to Aviano and the only program of its kind in the U.S. Air Force. It acts as a liaison between the local utility companies and members of Team Aviano. Service members residing off-base work with representatives in home fuels to pay their gas and electric utility bills. In addition to the information briefed at the Right Start program the week after their arrival, service members also receive a face-to-face meeting with a home fuels representative before signing the contract for their home. "Our team is dedicated to educating anyone who walks through the door, but it is the individual's responsibility to make sure they understand their role before they sign their contract," said JoAnne Weingaertner, 31st FSS resource manager. "Airmen should monitor their utility use through their meters so they know where they stand and how much they should cut back on things like using the air conditioner or unplugging appliances." Weingaertner said it is also important for members to conduct their own gas meter readings, because Italian gas companies only conduct meter readings annually, and the bimonthly bills are based off of gas usage the previous year. Members should receive their bills once every two months by mail. If individuals are not receiving consistent bills, they should notify home fuels to correct the problem and avoid large annual bills. To offset utility costs, members receive a monthly utilities allowance supplement in addition to their overseas housing allowance. This amount varies depending on current utility rates, but is currently $1,135 a month for members with dependents and $850 for those without. "This money is set aside to pay your bills, but some of the utility companies don't bill on time," said 1st Lt. Ryan Abel, 31st Comptroller Squadron financial management flight chief. "It's best to set aside your utilities allowance so when you get hit with a big bill it isn't as intimidating. The Air Force provides enough to cover most costs as long as you spend the money on what it's supposed to be used for." Because the utility bills are estimates based on the previous year's usage, Weingaertner said it is important for Team Aviano members to save their remaining utilities allowance after paying their bills. Depending if the member used more or less than the predicted amount, they will then either be asked to make up the difference, or receive a credit to be used in the next year's billing cycle. "This may not be the normal way of doing business in the states, but we aren't in the states, and as guests in this country, we must abide by the Italian way of doing business," said Weingaertner. "To improve the accuracy of these estimates members should bring us their meter readings so their bills throughout the year will better reflect what has actually been used." The home fuels office offers multiple options for members to pay their bill once they receive it, including a secure credit card program, automatic local bank withdrawals, and even paying in cash at the housing office. When members use the credit card program or the local bank program, they will receive an email prior to the charge or deduction so they know what will be charged to their accounts. Home fuels representatives can assist in setting up these payment options, but it is the service member's responsibility to ensure payments are made. To help service members with their bills, the home fuels team translates bills from Italian to English for all members across base. In addition to this, if individuals would like to receive the original bill in Italian as well, they simply need to request it from a home fuels representative. According to Weingaertner, there are stories associated with service members receiving massive bills at the end of their tours. If the individual's budget properly, live modestly, and monitor their utilities usage, she said there should be nothing to be concerned about. "These stories are due to miscalculations on the Airmen's part. If they would have saved their utilities allowance like they are supposed to, even with a $20,000 bill, they still would have had thousands left over once they left Aviano," said Weingaertner. "This money isn't extra pay; it shouldn't be used to augment your lifestyle with new cars and things like that. I recommend opening a second bank account for your utilities money to sit in until you get all your bills taken care of at the end of your tour. This should leave you with a nice nest egg as a reward." Although there are few options for utility companies, if Airmen are not happy with the service they are receiving they can request a change of companies through the home fuels office. The change will take a few weeks, but the changeover will be transparent to the service member and there will be no lapse in utilities, Weingaertner continued. The different companies that provide utilities are similarly priced, so company request changes should only be made when there are issues with customer service, not to lower the bills. According to Weingaertner, one sure way to keep bills low is also the most obvious, live reasonably and conserve power. She advises members to turn air conditioner and lights off when they leave their homes, as well as unplug transformers from the walls, as these devices continuously draw power, even when not in use. Doing these simple things will result in a much smaller bill at the end of a tour and more money for individuals. "This process may seem confusing looking at it from the outside, but we have a dedicated staff here at Team Aviano working to meet everyone's need, and they are capable of clearing up any confusion in your mind about the home fuels program," said Weingaertner. "We are working hard to make the process easier, but members of Team Aviano also have a responsibility to understand their role, live within their means and pay their bills on time." To learn more about the home fuels program, call 632-2272 or 043-430-2272 to set up an appointment with a home fuels representative.