Just finished an audit for a Norfolk manufacturing plant with Dominion Energy. Spent two weeks going through 3 years of bills expecting to find significant savings. Found maybe $800/year in minor billing errors. Client paid $3,500 for the audit and seems disappointed. How do you deliver news like this while maintaining the relationship?
Best practices for presenting bad news to clients?
Been there. I frame it as "good news - your utility management is already optimized." Then I focus on the process value - now they have documentation that their rates are correct and can use that for budgeting confidence.
Honestly sometimes finding nothing IS the finding. In North Carolina I had a client where Dominion was billing perfectly and they were on the optimal rate schedule. The peace of mind was worth the audit fee to them.
Always include a section on "areas monitored" even when you find minimal savings. Shows the thoroughness of your review and gives them a checklist for ongoing bill management. Plus suggest annual re-audits since rates change.