Phoenix manufacturing client wants me to change wording in a dispute letter to APS. They want me to claim their machinery was down for maintenance periods that I know were actually production downtime due to slow orders. The demand charge difference is about $3,200. This feels wrong but they're pushing hard. What would you do?
Client wants me to alter billing dispute letter - ethical question
Walk away. You're not just risking your reputation, you're potentially committing fraud. APS keeps detailed load profiles and will catch discrepancies during their investigation.
Had similar situation with PSE&G in Newark. Told client I could only dispute based on factual information. They backed down when I explained the liability issues. Better to keep your integrity.
Document everything. Send them an email explaining why you can't make false claims. If they insist, terminate the engagement professionally. Not worth the risk.
This is exactly why I always include ethics clauses in my contracts. Makes it easier to say no when situations like this come up.
Professional standards exist for good reason. False statements to utilities can result in criminal charges, not just professional sanctions. Always choose integrity over a quick fee.