Had a commercial client in Charlotte ask me to 'get creative' with their Duke Energy audit after I found legitimate savings of $18K annually on their Schedule LGS. They want me to challenge things I know are correctly billed just to see if Duke will give in. Where do you draw the line between aggressive advocacy and crossing ethical boundaries? This feels like asking me to file frivolous disputes.
Client wants me to 'find more savings' - ethical boundaries?
Karen, I've been there with CPS Energy clients in San Antonio. My rule is simple: I only challenge billing errors I can substantiate with documentation or tariff language. If I can't explain to a regulator why the challenge is legitimate, I don't file it. Your reputation is worth more than any single client.
Angela's right. I had a Pittsburgh manufacturer ask me to dispute every single demand charge for 24 months with Duquesne Light, knowing full well the meters were reading correctly. I explained that frivolous disputes could get us both in trouble with the PUC and hurt the entire industry's credibility.
The CUBA code of ethics is pretty clear on this. Section 4.2 states we must 'maintain honesty and integrity in all professional relationships.' Filing disputes you know are without merit violates that standard. I've had to fire clients in Dallas who wanted me to cross that line with TXU.
Marcus brings up a good point about the CUBA standards. I always explain to Phoenix clients that APS has gotten much more sophisticated about tracking audit patterns. If you develop a reputation for frivolous disputes, they'll scrutinize every future claim more heavily.
Here in Seattle, PSE actually keeps notes on auditors who file questionable disputes. I learned this from a contact inside their billing department. They have an internal 'watch list' that can make legitimate future audits much harder. Not worth the risk.
Thanks everyone. I explained to the client that I found substantial legitimate savings and that pursuing questionable disputes could jeopardize our working relationship with Duke. They understood once I put it in terms of long-term risk versus short-term gain.
Good call Karen. I've seen auditors in St. Louis get blacklisted by Ameren for exactly this kind of behavior. Once you lose credibility with a utility, it affects every client you serve in that territory. Stick to legitimate disputes and build long-term relationships.