Sam, here's my rough breakdown for a typical 500kW commercial account: Data collection 2-3 hours, Initial analysis 4-6 hours, Detailed calculations 3-4 hours, Report writing 2-3 hours, Client presentation 1 hour. So 12-17 hours total depending on complexity.
Time management - how long should different audit phases take?
Dale's numbers seem right for straightforward audits. But add 50% more time if you find errors that require utility correspondence, or if the client has missing bills that need to be requested. The "easy" audits never seem to stay easy.
I track my time religiously and industrial accounts take 2-3x longer than commercial. Multiple rate components, complex demand calculations, power factor analysis. Recently spent 40 hours on a single manufacturing plant audit, but found $180K in errors so it was worth it.
Pat's experience matches mine. Also factor in revision time - clients always want changes to reports, additional analysis, or different presentation formats. I now quote 20-25% more time than my initial estimate to cover revisions and unexpected complications.
Great thread everyone. I've learned to track time by utility too - some are much more cooperative than others when you need historical rate schedules or billing explanations. PSE&G usually responds same day, ConEd can take weeks. Build that into your timeline estimates.
Trying to get better at estimating project timelines for clients. How long do you typically spend on each phase of an audit? Data collection, analysis, report writing, utility correspondence, etc. I always seem to underestimate the total hours required.