Just wanted to share a small win. Found that OG&E was billing a client for both interstate pipeline transportation AND local distribution transportation on the same gas volume. Took three months to get them to admit the error but we recovered $3,200. Their billing system was automatically applying both charges to customers who switched from bundled to transport service. Check your transport customers carefully - this might be happening elsewhere too.
Small victory - caught OG&E double-billing gas transportation
Ed, great catch! I've seen similar issues with TXU gas service where they kept billing distribution charges after customers went to direct purchase. The billing systems never seem to get updated properly when service classifications change. How did you spot it - was it obvious on the bill or did you have to dig into the rate schedules?
Marcus, it wasn't obvious at all. The charges were buried in different line items and used different terminology. Only caught it when I built a spreadsheet comparing the customer's actual usage to what they should be paying under their transport tariff. That's why I always recommend doing a ground-up bill reconstruction for any customer who changes service types. The utilities sure aren't going to flag their own mistakes.