I was working with a broker who has a client that owns hotels throughout the Northeast. ConEd placed the property on an EL-2 rate for 13 months and then realized the error and switched the account to the proper classification EL-9 where it should have been all along. Even though the rate change was an implicit acknowledgment that the EL-2 was a misapplication, ConEd did not issue a refund for the over-billing that had occurred.
File a refund demand with ConEd, provide a line-by-line bill breakdown, usage calculations for both supply and demand, and give them an irrefutable argument showing a refund was due. After wading through ConEd's lower-tier customer service representatives' delay tactics like "we need an in-person meter reading", "you need to hire a licensed electrician", and "EL-2 is less expensive than EL-9", the customer filed an informal complaint with the NYS PSC. The refund demand previously sent to ConEd suddenly got kicked up the ladder to a supervisor, and after persistent daily pressure, today ConEd wrote:
Good afternoon, Mr. Wirth.
Below are the closing remarks for PSC case [case number withheld].
In response to the complaint filed dated June 1, 2026, the Utility reviewed the points presented therein. The account's billing was not in compliance, and the service classification was not applied accordingly. The customer will receive a refund of $112,824.02. This includes an overcharge of $92,038.04 and interest of $20,785.98. Enclosed is a statement of the adjustment. The billing covering from bill period ending 11/21/23 to 5/22/24 was not billed in compliance as such; the charges have been reversed entirely. The billing covering from bill period ending 6/21/24 to 2/26/25 was recalculated under Service Classification No. 9 rate.
Once the credit approvals have been completed and posted to the account, the statement of the billing adjustments will be provided for your records.
Thank you for your patience during this process.
Kind regards,
[name withheld]
File a refund demand with ConEd, provide a line-by-line bill breakdown, usage calculations for both supply and demand, and give them an irrefutable argument showing a refund was due. After wading through ConEd's lower-tier customer service representatives' delay tactics like "we need an in-person meter reading", "you need to hire a licensed electrician", and "EL-2 is less expensive than EL-9", the customer filed an informal complaint with the NYS PSC. The refund demand previously sent to ConEd suddenly got kicked up the ladder to a supervisor, and after persistent daily pressure, today ConEd wrote:
Good afternoon, Mr. Wirth.
Below are the closing remarks for PSC case [case number withheld].
In response to the complaint filed dated June 1, 2026, the Utility reviewed the points presented therein. The account's billing was not in compliance, and the service classification was not applied accordingly. The customer will receive a refund of $112,824.02. This includes an overcharge of $92,038.04 and interest of $20,785.98. Enclosed is a statement of the adjustment. The billing covering from bill period ending 11/21/23 to 5/22/24 was not billed in compliance as such; the charges have been reversed entirely. The billing covering from bill period ending 6/21/24 to 2/26/25 was recalculated under Service Classification No. 9 rate.
Once the credit approvals have been completed and posted to the account, the statement of the billing adjustments will be provided for your records.
Thank you for your patience during this process.
Kind regards,
[name withheld]