What are the early warning signs that an audit is going to take longer than expected? I'm getting better at spotting these but still occasionally get surprised by complexity. Yesterday found out a "simple" warehouse audit involves 3 different meters, 2 rate schedules, and a private transformer that affects billing. Should have seen this coming somehow.
Red Flags That Extend Audit Timeline
Terrence, great question. My biggest red flags: 1) Bills from multiple utilities or accounts 2) Any mention of "special rates" or "economic development" pricing 3) Significant month-to-month billing variations without obvious seasonal patterns 4) Customer mentions recent facility changes or equipment additions 5) Bills that don't clearly show demand readings. These all signal potential complexity.
I always ask about power factor correction equipment upfront now. Had too many audits where I missed capacitor bank issues or harmonic problems that affected billing. Also any mention of co-generation, solar panels, or battery storage systems - these can completely change the billing dynamics and require specialized analysis.
One thing I learned the hard way - always verify the service voltage and connection type early. Had a client tell me they were on standard commercial service, turned out to be primary voltage with customer-owned transformer. Completely changed the rate analysis and added days to the project. Now I ask to see the service entrance during initial site visit.
Manufacturing clients often have the most surprises. Process changes, equipment upgrades, shift schedule modifications - all can affect usage patterns mid-audit period. I now always ask about any operational changes during the audit timeframe upfront. Saves a lot of head-scratching when the numbers don't make sense.
For me it's usually in the initial bill review. If I see multiple line items I don't recognize, or if the rate schedule code doesn't match what I expect for that type of facility, that's a flag to dig deeper before quoting timeline. Also check for any "adjustment" or "credit" line items that might indicate special circumstances.