Pay and Conditions

Part 10: Utilities

7.10.1 Purpose

This Part has two purposes.

1. To set out when a member must contribute to the cost of the water they use.

2. To set out when and how much a member can be reimbursed for utilities.

7.10.2 Utilities – definition

1. Utilities means one of these.

   1. Water.

   2. Electricity.

   3. Gas.

   4. Garbage and sewage disposal.

2. In areas where a utility is not available to the public, the equivalent private supply is also taken to be a utility.

   Example: Where sewerage cannot be connected outside a rural town, a septic system may have to be used instead.

7.10.3 Member sections 7.10.4 and 7.10.5 apply to

This table sets out members who are eligible for assistance with the cost of utilities under sections 7.10.4 and 7.10.5.

Assistance with utilities

Item	A member is eligible if they are...	and they are...
1.	a member with dependants (unaccompanied)	living in one of these homes at the posting location. A Service residence. A home for which they get rent allowance. Their own home, if they would otherwise be eligible for rent allowance. Member choice accommodation.
2.	a member without dependants	posted to a seagoing submarine and living in one of these homes at the posting location. A Service residence. A home for which they get rent allowance. Their own home, if they would otherwise be eligible for rent allowance. Member choice accommodation.

7.10.4 Eligible member – reimbursement for utilities

1. A member described by section 7.10.3 is eligible for the reimbursement of these costs.

   1. The part of the local government rates charged for the home that relate directly to utilities.

   2. Utilities, up to one of the following amounts.

   1. If the member is not on a flexible service determination — the member may be reimbursed up to a maximum of $79.15 a fortnight.

   2. If the member is on a flexible service determination — the member may be reimbursed an amount calculated as follows.

   

   Where:

   NWP is the number of days in the nonworking period in the pay fortnight.

   U is the fortnightly utilities reimbursement amount specified in paragraph 7.10.4.1.b.

2. A member may pay more for utilities than the amounts set out in subsection 1. In this case, the CDF may decide to reimburse them an additional amount. The CDF must consider all these matters.

   1. The kind of home the member lives in, its condition and the rent paid for it.

      Example: The home is out of town and not connected to a sewerage system. The member must pay for a person to come and empty the septic tank.

   2. The climate at the home's location.

   3. Utility consumption by other members at the location.

   4. Any special facts that mean the member consumes more utilities.

      Example 1: A water pipe outside the house wears through and starts to leak at night when the member is sleeping.

      Example 2: The member has to hose their house to keep it damp during a bushfire.

3. This section does not apply to an eligible member who lives in one of the Service residences described in section 7.10.8.

7.10.5 Member temporarily away from home

1. A member described in section 7.10.3 is eligible for the reimbursement of utility costs when they are away from their home for up to one month. The member must meet one of these conditions.

   1. They are away on paid leave or temporary duty.

   2. They are away because they are in one of these places.

      1. Hospital.

      2. Prison, or detained another way under the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982.

      3. Living in temporarily for Service reasons.

2. The CDF may approve the member being reimbursed for longer than one month. The CDF must consider all these facts.

   1. The reasons the member is away from home.

   2. When they are expected to return.

   3. The time the member will need to move out of the home, if they have to.

   4. Any other factor relevant to the absence.

7.10.6 Member who must contribute to the cost of utilities

1. Sections 7.10.7 to 7.10.9 require some members to pay toward the cost of the utilities in their accommodation.

2. These sections only apply to utilities that the Defence Housing Australia or the Commonwealth have paid for.

7.10.7 Contribution for water – Service residence

1. A member who lives in a Service residence must pay a contribution toward the cost of the water they use.

   Exception: A member with dependants (unaccompanied) who is living in a surplus Service residence does not have to pay a contribution for water for that residence.

2. The fortnightly rate of contribution is worked out using this formula.

   $21.50 ÷ the number of members who live in the residence

7.10.8 Contribution for energy costs – tied or Service residences

1. This section applies to a member who lives in any of these Service residences.

   Exception: A member with dependants (unaccompanied).

   1. 1 Parnell Road, Royal Military College, Duntroon.

   2. 2 Parnell Road, Royal Military College, Duntroon.

   3. 3 Parnell Road, Royal Military College, Duntroon.

   4. 4 Parnell Road, Royal Military College, Duntroon.

   5. 6 Robert Campbell Road (Bridges House), Royal Military College, Duntroon.

   6. The Commander's Residence, Davey Street, Anglesea Barracks, Hobart.

2. The member must pay the Commonwealth $151.87 a fortnight towards the cost of energy for the residence.

7.10.9 Contribution for utilities – member living in

1. Subject to section 7.10.9A, a member who lives in must pay the Commonwealth a contribution of $49.02 a fortnight toward the cost of utilities.

2. A member who lives in is not required to pay a contribution for utilities for any full day or part day they are living under field conditions, on a seagoing ship or on a seagoing submarine.

3. Subject to subsection 4, a member who lives in and does not pay a contribution for living-in accommodation is not required to pay any contribution for utilities.

4. A member who does not pay a contribution for living-in accommodation, and meets any of the following criteria, is required to pay a contribution for utilities.

   1. The member is a normal entry recruit during basic recruit training.

   2. The member is a member without dependants who is in a room with four or more beds.

   3. The member is temporarily living in accommodation below the standard that would be classified as level 1 accommodation.

      See: Part 4 Division 5 subsection 7.4.32.2, Members who do not pay to live in

7.10.9A Contribution for utilities - member living on a flexible service determination

1. This section applies to a member who meets all of the following conditions.

1. The member is a member with dependants (unaccompanied).

2. The member is on a flexible service determination.

3. The member lives in.

2. The member must pay a fortnightly utilities contribution for their nonworking period. The contribution is calculated as follows.



Where:

NWP is the number of days in the nonworking period in the pay fortnight.

C is the fortnightly utilities contribution amount specified in section 7.10.9.1.

7.10.10 Assistance with utility connection deposits

1. A member is eligible for an advance for a utility connection deposit when they occupy a Service residence.

2. The advance is the full amount of the payment.

3. The member may ask for assistance for only a part of the utility connection deposit.

4. The member may get a refund of the utility connection deposit from the utility company at the end of their occupancy. In this case, they must immediately repay the Commonwealth any amount the Commonwealth paid them under subsection 1. In all cases, they must repay this amount to the Commonwealth by the day their eligibility for the Service residence ends.

5. If the member gets any interest on money the utility company refunds to them, they must pay the interest to the Commonwealth.

7.10.11 Advance payment of utility connection deposit when sharing

1. This section applies to member who shares a Service residence with another person.

2. The member can apply for an advance of the money they would be eligible for under section 7.10.10. They can apply for an advance of all or part of the amount.

   Note: It makes no difference whether the housemates contribute equally to the utility connection deposit or if one of them pays the full amount.

   See: Section 7.10.10, Assistance with utility connection deposits

7.10.12 Member to give evidence of payment

1. A member who has been given an advance under section 7.10.10 must give Defence Housing Australia's Housing Management Centre Manager documents to show that they have used it for the intended purpose.

   See: Section 7.10.10, Assistance with utility connection deposits

2. The documents must be provided within 14 days of occupying the Service residence.

7.10.13 Unused advances to be repaid

1. If any part of an advance is not used for its intended purposes, the member must repay it immediately to the Commonwealth.

2. The CDF may decide that a member who received an advance has not paid or lodged it. The member must repay the advance immediately to the Commonwealth.