Working on a Methodist church account in Columbus, Ohio (AEP territory). Monthly bills around $2,200. Are there any special tariff considerations for religious facilities? I know some utilities have nonprofit rates but can't find clear guidance for Ohio.
Member Community
Enter your email to read this discussion
You're reading the AAUBA Member Forum — where Certified Utility Bill Auditors share case studies, tariff strategies, and industry insights.
Free to read. Enter your email to continue.
No spam. We'll send you one welcome email about CUBA certification. Unsubscribe any time.
Church accounts - any special considerations?
Cecilia, most churches qualify for the same commercial rates as any other business in Ohio. AEP doesn't have special religious rates that I know of. Focus on the usual suspects - correct rate class, power factor if they have older HVAC, and lighting schedules. Churches often get misclassified because of irregular usage patterns.
Check if they qualify for any energy efficiency rebates. Churches often have older lighting and HVAC that could benefit from utility programs. Also look at seasonal usage - many churches have big spikes for holiday events that might trigger demand charges unnecessarily.
Thanks Dan and Patty. Found they were on Schedule GS-1 when they should be GS-2 based on peak demand. The seasonal spikes from Christmas and Easter events were definitely hitting them with higher demand charges. Looks like about $180/month in overpayments.