Found a huge error on ComEd industrial account. Meter shows CT ratio 400:5 but billing multiplier is set to 120 instead of 80. Been overcharging demand by 50% for 3 years! Customer's actual peak was 640 kW but billed for 960 kW. At $16.20/kW that's $5,184 overcharge per month, $186,624 total. ComEd claiming it's customer responsibility to verify multiplier. Anyone fight this before?
Meter multiplier error - $50K overcharge
Jorge, that's definitely utility error not customer responsibility. CT ratio determines multiplier, period. 400:5 = 80 multiplier. Document everything and escalate to ComEd commercial services manager. They have to fix it.
Bev's right. Had similar case with ComEd in 2018 - wrong multiplier for 18 months. They initially pushed back but eventually refunded $78,000 plus interest. Key is proving the CT ratio from installation records.
Thanks Renee. I have photos of the meter nameplate showing 400:5 CT ratio and ComEd's own installation records from 2017. Their billing system somehow got set to 120 multiplier. Customer never would have known - bills just showed total kW demand.
Jorge, make sure you calculate interest on the refund. Illinois regulations require utilities to pay interest on overcharges beyond 60 days. At 3 years, that's significant additional money.
Also check if the error affected power factor calculations. Wrong CT multiplier can cascade into other billing errors. Might be even more money involved.
Laura, good catch. Power factor penalty was also inflated due to wrong kW reading. Adding that to the claim. Chuck, working on interest calculation now - looks like another $15K.
Jorge, document timeline carefully. ComEd will try to limit refund period but Illinois allows up to 4 years for billing errors. Don't let them shortchange the refund period.
Jorge, any update on your ComEd case? This thread is great documentation for others facing similar CT multiplier errors. These cases are more common than people think.