Had a client last week who watched me work through their PSE&G audit and now thinks they can handle future audits themselves. Anyone else run into this? How do you explain the value you bring beyond just the mechanical checking?
How do you handle clients who want to DIY after seeing your process?
I always tell them about the time it takes to stay current on tariff changes and the mistakes I've caught that weren't obvious. Like when Georgia Power changed their coincident peak calculation method mid-year without proper notice.
Some clients need to learn the hard way. Had one try to DIY and missed $18K in refunds because they didn't know about a rate rider that was discontinued. They came back after that.
Robert - happens all the time. I explain that what they saw was the tip of the iceberg. The real value is in knowing tariff history, rate case changes, and having relationships with utility billing departments when disputes arise.
The key is emphasizing ongoing monitoring vs one-time audits. Sure, they might catch obvious errors, but we provide continuous oversight and catch systemic issues. Most clients appreciate that distinction.