We've been getting more manufacturing clients with 50+ meters and I'm wondering how others structure your audits for these complex facilities. Do you tackle all meters simultaneously or prioritize by demand/usage? Looking for efficient workflows that don't miss anything critical.
Systematic approach to high-volume facilities
Marcus - I always start with the highest demand meters first. Usually 80% of your savings potential is in the top 20% of accounts. Get the big fish first, then work down. For a 50-meter facility I'd probably focus on any meter over 500kW first.
I disagree Tony. You need to look at the whole picture first or you might miss systemic issues. I do a quick pass through ALL meters to identify billing patterns, then deep dive. Found a CT ratio error on a 'small' 200kW meter that saved $18K/year once.
Good points both. Floyd, how long does your initial pass usually take? I'm trying to balance thoroughness with efficiency since these large audits can drag on forever if you're not careful.
For 50 meters, maybe 2-3 days for the overview. I create a spreadsheet with all accounts, tariffs, demand patterns, and red flags. Then I can present priorities to the client and get their input on which areas to focus on first.
Smart approach Floyd. I also like to get facility operations involved early - they often know which meters have had issues or unusual usage patterns. Can save you hours of detective work later.