Church-run daycare in Baltimore County, BGE. They'd been on a general-service commercial schedule for years. Their usage profile - steady daytime load, closed evenings/weekends, no demand spikes - screamed they belonged on a small general-service schedule, not the larger one they were classified under. The larger schedule carried a demand component they were basically never using efficiently. Reclassified them and BGE back-credited 24 months of the difference: $6,720. Going forward they save roughly $180/month.
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Nonprofit stuck on commercial rate - moved to correct schedule, $6,720 refund + ongoing savings
How far back did BGE agree to go? I've had them cap reclassification refunds at 12 months even when the misclassification was clearly on their end.
24 months, but I had to fight for the second year. Maryland's rules gave me leverage - I cited the PSC provision on billing adjustments for utility error. When the misclassification originates with the utility's own account setup, the standard 12-month courtesy window isn't necessarily the ceiling. Documented that BGE had assigned the wrong class at account opening and pushed on that basis.
Angela, was there any risk in the reclassification? Sometimes moving a nonprofit onto a smaller schedule exposes them if their load grows and they blow past the schedule's demand ceiling. Did you check headroom?
Good question - yes. Their peak over the trailing 12 months was well under the new schedule's threshold, with comfortable margin. I noted in the report that if they add a second HVAC zone or expand hours they should re-evaluate, but at current load the smaller schedule is clearly correct. Always check the ceiling before you move someone down.
Also worth flagging for the thread: some of these nonprofits qualify for sales-tax exemption on the utility itself, separate from the rate class. Angela, did you check whether they were being charged sales tax they could be exempt from? That's often another few percent sitting right there.
Steve - they were partially exempt and BGE had it right on the daycare meter, but you're correct that it's worth verifying every time. On this one the tax was clean. The rate class was the whole ballgame.
Closing the loop: refund check cleared, reclassification is live on the June bill, and the June statement confirms the ~$180/month drop. Client is thrilled - it's a daycare, that money matters to them. Filed the whole thing as a case study in my templates folder.
Great case, Angela - and good instinct citing the PSC error provision to break the 12-month cap. That's exactly the kind of documented, tariff-and-regulation-grounded work we want representing AAUBA. Nice job all around.