Finally closed a claim that I filed in 2014. Three years from filing to check. The client was a manufacturing complex in Newark on PSE&G with 6 meters. I found that 3 of the 6 meters had wrong CT ratios — all installed incorrectly during a 2010 meter upgrade. PSE&G disputed my findings, insisted their records were correct, and refused to conduct meter tests for 18 months. I filed a formal complaint with the NJ BPU. The BPU ordered the meter tests. All three came back showing the wrong ratios. PSE&G finally agreed to a refund but then spent another year arguing about the lookback period. Final settlement: $228,000. My fee: $68,400. Worth the wait but I nearly gave up twice.
The audit that took 3 years to settle
Phil, your persistence is what separates good auditors from great ones. Most people would have given up after the first year. This story illustrates two important things: first, meter-related claims take longer than rate claims because they require physical verification. Second, the BPU complaint is your leverage when the utility stonewalls. You did everything right — documented the error, requested testing, escalated when denied, and negotiated the settlement. $228,000 for the client and $68,400 for you. That's the payoff for patience.
Three years is a marathon. Did you adjust your contingency agreement to account for the extended timeline, or was the client OK waiting?
My engagement letter doesn't have an expiration date. The client was patient because I kept them updated quarterly and they understood the BPU process takes time. The key was managing expectations — I told them from the start that meter claims can take 1-3 years when disputed. They were OK with that because the alternative was walking away from $228,000.