I've been doing manual spreadsheet audits for two years here in Corpus Christi working mostly AEP Texas accounts. Business has grown to where I need better systems - spending too much time on data entry instead of actual analysis. What software are you all using for bill analysis and client management? I looked at a few options but they're pretty pricey for a small operation. Last month I caught $18,500 in errors for a petrochemical plant but spent 12 hours just organizing their 24 months of bills.
Software recommendations for scaling up operations?
Vivian, I'm up in Huntsville dealing with TVA rates and went through the same thing. I bit the bullet and got UtilityVision Pro last year - about $300/month but it pays for itself. Automatically imports bill data, flags anomalies, tracks savings over time. Cut my analysis time by about 60%. The ROI calculation alone has helped me close more deals with prospects.
I use EnergyCAP here in Cincinnati for Duke Energy accounts. Different approach - more focused on ongoing monitoring than one-time audits. About $200/month but includes client portals where they can see their own data. Clients love being able to log in and see their savings in real time. Helps with retention big time.
Been using a custom Excel setup here in Springfield with Ameren Missouri accounts. Built my own macros and templates over the years. Not as fancy as the commercial software but it's free and does exactly what I need. Happy to share the templates if anyone wants them - just took me about 6 months to get them right.
Elmer, I'd love to see those templates! I'm in Boise working with Idaho Power and their rate structures are pretty straightforward. Might be able to adapt your spreadsheets instead of paying for software. The problem with a lot of these commercial packages is they're overkill for smaller operations.
Has anyone tried BillSentry? I'm looking at it for my PPL territory accounts here in Harrisburg. They claim it can handle complex rate schedules and demand calculations automatically. Demo looked impressive but wondering about real-world experience. They want $250/month which seems reasonable.
Sylvia, I tried BillSentry last year for PG&E accounts out here in Fresno. Interface was clunky and it had trouble with some of the agricultural rate schedules. Customer service was terrible too - took them 3 days to respond to a simple question. Ended up canceling after 2 months.
Thanks for all the input everyone. I think I'm leaning toward trying UtilityVision Pro based on Albert's recommendation. The 60% time savings would be huge - I could probably take on 3-4 more clients without working longer hours. That would more than pay for the software cost.
Good choice Vivian. One tip - make sure you get the training package when you sign up. The software can do a lot but there's a learning curve. I probably only used 20% of the features for the first few months until I got comfortable with it.
I've been following this thread with interest. Just started my practice here in Oklahoma City with OG&E accounts. Still in the manual spreadsheet phase but good to know what options are out there as I grow. The $300/month seems steep now but I can see how it would pay off with volume.
Susan, even at smaller volumes the software helps with accuracy. I caught an error last week that my old manual process would have missed - a demand ratchet calculation that was off by $400/month. The software flagged it immediately because it tracks historical patterns. Sometimes it's not about speed, it's about catching things you might overlook.