After 6 months of doing this, I've settled on a workflow that works for me. Step 1: Get 24-36 months of bills and contracts. Step 2: Verify rate schedule matches actual bills. Step 3: Check meter readings for obvious errors. Step 4: Look for tax exemptions and surcharge issues. Step 5: Calculate demand vs usage patterns. What am I missing?
My 5-step audit workflow for new clients
That's solid Sarah. I'd add checking for power factor penalties early in the process. AEP in Virginia hits customers hard if they're below 0.85. Also verify the meter multiplier matches what's on the bill.
Don't forget to check if they're on the right tariff class entirely. PSE&G has 12 different commercial schedules. I found a warehouse paying Schedule CGS when they should've been on Schedule LPS. Saved them $8,400/year.
I always start with the contract and work backwards to the bills. Louisville Gas & Electric has some funky clauses that override the published tariffs. Contract review first saves time later.
Excellent discussion. The key is having a consistent methodology you can repeat. Document everything and create checklists. Consistency leads to fewer missed opportunities and defensible findings.