Hey everyone - Brian here. I've been doing audits for about 6 months now and I'm starting to pick up more clients. Right now I feel like I'm reinventing the wheel each time. Does anyone have a standard workflow or checklist they use across different utilities? I'm working with Duke Energy, Progress Energy, and Dominion mainly.
Standardizing audit workflow across multiple clients
Brian, absolutely you need a standard process. I use a 12-step checklist regardless of utility. Start with account verification, then billing period consistency, demand calculations, power factor penalties, fuel adjustments, taxes. Happy to share my template if you want to PM me.
One more thing - I keep a separate spreadsheet with utility-specific notes. Contact numbers, typical error patterns, rate effective dates, etc. Saves tons of time when you're juggling multiple clients with different utilities.
Beverly's right about having a standard framework. I'd add that you need to customize certain sections based on utility. Duke Energy has some unique tariff structures that Progress doesn't. But the core methodology should be identical - consumption analysis, rate verification, demand charges, adjustments, taxes, late fees.
Thanks Beverly and Victor. That makes sense about customizing sections. Victor, what do you mean about Duke Energy's unique tariff structures? I've been working with their Schedule GSA tariff mostly.
GSA is straightforward but watch their coincident peak calculations - they use a 4CP method that's different from Progress Energy's monthly peak. Also Duke has those environmental compliance costs that get billed separately on some schedules. Always verify those line items.