Bob from Fayetteville. Took on a county government client — a complex with a courthouse, jail, and administrative offices all on one meter. Found the account on a standard commercial rate. Turns out my state has a government entity rate that applies specifically to county and municipal accounts. Nobody at the county had ever heard of it. Savings of about $1,600 per month going forward. Anyone else find government-specific rate classes being missed?
Government building rate class — special rules I didn't know about
Ron from Fargo. Yes and it is very common. Government entities are not well-served by utility account reps because they are seen as captive customers who will not leave. They often sit on whatever rate they were originally assigned with no review for years.
Brett from Topeka. School districts are the same. I found a large consolidated school district on a general commercial rate that had a government educational rate available that was never offered to them.
Brett how did you make the case that they qualified? The eligibility criteria in my territory use the term political subdivision which is not entirely clear.
I pulled the county charter documents and the state statute defining political subdivisions. The school district was explicitly listed. Printed the statute and attached it to my dispute filing. Utility did not push back at all once they saw the legal definition.
Ron again. Also worth checking whether government accounts qualify for sales tax exemptions on their utility bills. Many do and nobody has filed for the exemption.
Ron that is a whole separate finding I had not even gotten to yet. This client is going to keep giving.