NIU’s department of Finance and Facilities projects almost $12 million in facility costs for next year – a 20 percent increase from this year.

Bob Albanese, director of Finance and Facilities, said the department uses a meteorologist to forecast the seasons so it can reach an estimate of power consumption.

“Cost of the market and economy are going up,” Albanese said. “That’s why last summer campus closed on Fridays, and employees had to work four days instead of five.”

Albanese said utilities is the second-largest expenditure at the university, next to staff.

Accountancy professor David Keys said the university can’t do anything about these costs in the short run because they are fixed costs.

“They will probably have to increase the revenue side by increasing tuition,” Keys said.

Since NIU no longer can increase the tuition cost for incoming freshmen, the increase in these costs will impact other students, he said.

The main utility companies that provide services to NIU are Nicor Gas and ComEd, which distribute utilities to NIU substations.

“To purchase the kilowatt, we have to put a bid first in the market, and we ask companies how much would be a kilowatt per hour, so we can choose the best offer,” Albanese said.

Albanese said on campus, everything is managed centrally, and the substations located on the east and west ends of campus distribute energy and gas to other parts of campus, such as the buildings and residence halls.

Students living in the residence halls don’t pay additional fees for heat and electricity, but it is included with the room and board fees, Albanese said.

It has not been decided yet if last year’s summer saving model will be used this summer.

“I suspect that we will probably be looking for something like that during this summer,” Albanese said.