Trying to build a case for a 4-year refund on a CenterPoint account in Houston but CenterPoint says they only retain billing data for 24 months. Without the historical billing data I can't prove the overcharge amount going back further than 2 years. Is there any way to get older data?
Old meter data — utility says they only keep 24 months
A few options. First, ask the client for their own records. AP departments at larger companies often keep utility payment records for 7+ years for tax purposes. The check amounts and invoice numbers can help reconstruct billing history. Second, check if the client used a billing consolidator — they may have data going back further than the utility retains. Third, for CenterPoint specifically, their online portal sometimes has data beyond what customer service quotes. Log in with the client's credentials and check the historical usage section.
The data retention issue is real and it varies by utility. Some keep data for 3 years, some for 7, some indefinitely in their archived systems even though the customer service reps can only access 24 months. When a rep says they only have 24 months, ask to escalate to the billing supervisor or the revenue protection department. They often have access to archived data that front-line reps cannot see. Also, if you're filing a formal complaint with the Texas PUC, you can request that the utility produce historical billing records through the complaint process. Regulatory data requests can unlock data that informal requests cannot.
Asked the client's controller and she has AP records going back 6 years. The payment amounts line up with what I'd expect if the error was continuous. Going to use those AP records to extrapolate the overcharge amount for years 3 and 4. Thanks for the suggestions.