Had a weird situation last week. I found $24,000 in PSE&G billing errors on a Newark manufacturing client. Two days later, their energy broker calls claiming he 'optimized their rate structure' and wants credit for the savings. The errors were basic demand ratchet miscalculations going back 18 months. Anyone else deal with brokers trying to piggyback on audit findings?
Broker tried to claim my audit savings as their work
This happens more than you'd think. I always document my findings with timestamps and send preliminary reports directly to the client before brokers know what I found. Had a Houston broker try the same thing on a CenterPoint Energy account.
Brokers in Alabama are getting aggressive about this. Mobile Bay Electric had a broker show up at my client meeting uninvited claiming we were 'working together.' Now I require signed engagement letters that specifically exclude broker involvement.
The good brokers refer clients to us and stay out of the audit process. The sketchy ones try to claim credit after the fact. I've started copying the utility on all correspondence to establish a clear paper trail.
Had similar with Duke Energy in Charlotte. Broker claimed my power factor correction recommendation was his idea. Client sided with me because I had detailed calculations and the broker just had generic talking points.
Documentation is your best protection. Detailed audit reports with specific utility tariff references and calculation methodologies make it clear where the expertise came from. Most clients can tell the difference between real analysis and broker sales pitches.