Survey affects utility allowances Published March 3, 2014 U.S. Air Forces in Europe AirForces Africa RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The Defense Travel Management Office will conduct an Overseas Housing Allowance Utility Expenses Survey March 1 through 31, 2014, to identify how much money servicemembers spent last year for utilities. All service members, regardless of service affiliation, who reside in off-post housing in Germany are requested to complete the survey in order to accurately gage the amount of utility allowances service members are receiving. This survey is critical for ensuring OHA rates are properly set at overseas locations and directly affects the amount of housing allowance each service member is paid. To complete the OHA utilities expense survey, servicemembers should use actual bills or records of their utilities to report the average monthly cost of utilities. Spouses are authorized to take the survey if the service member is deployed. Every year the Defense Travel Management Office conducts these types of surveys to identify how much service members have spent in the previous year for utilities. A link for the survey is below. https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/oha-util-mar.cfm