Commercial utility bills contain multiple charge types, many of which are rarely examined. A utility bill audit reviews each line item — not just the supply rate — to identify billing errors, rate classification issues, demand charge anomalies, and procurement opportunities.
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What a Utility Bill Audit Covers
Line-by-line review of: rate classification (are you on the right tariff?), demand charges (any anomalous spikes that inflated demand?), supply rate (is it competitive vs. current market?), capacity charges (is your capacity tag accurate?), reactive power penalties (are you carrying excessive reactive load?), and any miscellaneous riders or surcharges that can be challenged.
Common Billing Errors
Meter reading errors, incorrect rate code application, duplicate charges, and incorrect demand ratchet calculations are the most common utility billing errors. Utilities have refund processes for verified errors — most require filing within 2–3 years of the billing date.
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Demand Charge Anomalies
A single anomalous event — equipment startup surge, temporary construction load, HVAC failure — can spike demand for one 15-minute interval in a month, inflating your demand charge for that entire billing period. Some utilities offer demand charge averaging or demand ratchet adjustments for documented anomalies. We identify these and advise on whether a billing adjustment is available.
Rate Reclassification Opportunities
Commercial accounts are classified by utility into rate codes based on load characteristics. An account that has grown or shrunk significantly, or changed its usage pattern, may be misclassified. Moving from a general service tariff to an interruptible service tariff, time-of-use tariff, or large commercial tariff can meaningfully change your total bill.
From Audit to Action
Bill audit findings drive two types of action: backward-looking corrections (refund claims for billing errors, demand charge adjustments) and forward-looking optimization (rate reclassification, supply procurement, demand management). We document findings and advise on the expected value of pursuing each.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a commercial energy broker get paid?
Brokers are compensated by the supplier you choose — a small per-kWh fee built into the contract rate. This fee exists in every supplier's pricing regardless of whether a broker is involved. You pay nothing out of pocket.
How many suppliers will you get quotes from?
We submit to 30+ licensed retail energy suppliers active in your state. Not all will quote every account — load size, credit profile, and industry classification affect who bids. We pull from the full available market.
How long does the process take?
From data collection to competing offers typically takes 3–5 business days. Contract execution takes another 1–2 business days. Service transition happens on your next billing cycle — no interruption.
Is there a contract with the broker?
No. You authorize us to collect your usage data and solicit quotes on your behalf. There's no fee arrangement, no retainer, and no commitment until you choose a supplier offer to execute.
What if I'm currently under contract?
We'll review your existing contract terms, note the expiration window, and initiate a quote process 6–9 months before expiration. If there's an early termination option that makes economic sense, we'll flag it.