Ice cream shop owner contacted me about high summer bills. They're seasonal, closed Nov-March, but ConEd keeps them on the same rate year-round. Thinking they might qualify for seasonal rate or at least seasonal minimum billing. Anyone dealt with seasonal commercial accounts in New York?
Seasonal business billing - timing matters
ConEd has seasonal provisions but they're not well advertised. Usually requires 6+ months of minimal usage and formal application. The catch is you have to apply during the closed season to qualify for the following year. Timing is everything with seasonal rates.
That explains why they never qualified - owner never knew to apply during the winter closure. I'm helping him file for next year but also checking if there were any billing errors during peak season. Bills hit $3,100/month in July which seems high for a small ice cream shop.