Trying to get better at estimating project timelines. For a typical commercial account (500-1000 KW), how do you guys break down time allocation? I seem to spend way too long in the initial data gathering phase and then rush through analysis. Looking for some benchmarks on realistic time budgets for each phase.
Time management - how long should each audit phase take?
Those numbers seem about right Kent. I'd add that complex accounts with multiple rate schedules or unusual billing arrangements can easily double those times. Also factor in revision time if you find errors - sometimes the follow-up work with the utility takes longer than the original audit.
One thing that helped me speed up data gathering - I created a checklist of exactly what to request upfront, organized by utility. Each company has slightly different terminology and procedures. Having utility-specific templates cut my data gathering time almost in half.
Bob - for that size account I typically budget: Data gathering (4-6 hours), Rate analysis (6-8 hours), Demand/usage verification (4-6 hours), Report writing (3-4 hours). Total around 20-24 hours spread over 2-3 weeks depending on utility responsiveness. The key is being really organized in data gathering - create standard request templates so you're not starting from scratch each time.