Submitted an audit to Georgia Power showing $28K in incorrect demand charges over 18 months. Their initial response was basically "our billing system doesn't make mistakes" and requested I provide proof that THEIR meter readings were wrong. How do you handle utilities that are immediately defensive rather than investigating legitimate findings?
Dealing with utility pushback on findings
Eugene - frustrating but typical first response. Document everything and resubmit with even more detail. Show your calculations step-by-step, cite specific tariff sections, include copies of the bills with your corrections highlighted. Make it harder for them to dismiss. Also escalate to supervisory level if the first reviewer isn't cooperative.
If they won't budge, threaten PSC complaint. Most utilities have internal dispute resolution procedures they'll offer before it goes to regulatory level. Had similar situation with Alabama Power - took 4 months but eventually got $31K refund plus interest. Document the timeline in case you need to show regulatory delay.
Eugene, also check if there's a specific contact for billing disputes vs. general customer service. Larger utilities usually have dedicated staff for complex billing issues who understand tariffs better than front-line reps. Sometimes it's just a matter of getting to the right person.
Update on this situation? Curious how it turned out. I'm dealing with similar pushback from Entergy right now on a demand ratchet issue. They keep insisting their interpretation of the tariff is correct even though it clearly contradicts the published language.
Georgia Power can be tough. Try framing it as "we found some discrepancies and want to work together to resolve them" rather than "you made errors". Same information, less confrontational approach. Also helpful to acknowledge that billing systems are complex and mistakes happen - keeps it professional.