Hi all — Bonnie F from Wichita, KS, but I've been spending a lot of time working with a Canadian client who has facilities on both sides of the border. Does AAUBA certification mean anything in Canada? Also, hi — I'm new to posting even though I've been a member since 2010. Westar Energy territory on the US side, Hydro One on the Canadian side.
Hello from Toronto - do Canadians count?
Welcome to posting, Bonnie! AAUBA certification is US-focused but the principles absolutely apply in Canada. We've had a few members work cross-border. — Randy D
I've done some work with Ontario clients. Hydro One's billing is actually more straightforward than most US utilities, but the Global Adjustment charge is where the big money is. — Yuri P
Interesting thread. Bonnie, are you billing the Canadian work under your US practice or did you set up a separate entity? — Walt D
I'm billing through my US LLC but I had to research the tax implications. Consulted with a cross-border tax accountant. The short version: it works fine as long as you invoice in USD.
The Canadian regulatory structure is quite different from the US. Provincial regulators instead of state PUCs, and the market structures vary wildly between provinces. — Phil G
Phil makes a good point. I've only worked in Ontario so far. Are there any members who've worked with Quebec or Alberta clients?
I did one project in Alberta for a food processing plant. ATCO Gas and Fortis Alberta territory. The tariffs are published in English and the regulatory framework is transparent. Alberta was honestly easier to audit than most US states. — Carl N
This is fascinating. Bonnie, what kind of savings are you finding? Are Canadian rates high enough to justify the auditing? — Angela R
Ontario rates are absolutely high enough — commercial electricity in the GTA runs $0.12-0.18/kWh all-in, and the Global Adjustment alone can be 60-70% of the total bill for smaller customers. My client's facility in Mississauga had been misclassified and we recovered about CAD $45,000.
$45K Canadian — solid. The exchange rate even gives you a little bonus when you convert back to USD. Smart niche. — Mike D
Thanks everyone. This thread is making me think there might be a real market for cross-border auditing. Not many US auditors are willing to deal with the regulatory differences, which means less competition.
You might be onto something. If you're interested, I can connect you with a contact at the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance. — Randy D
That would be amazing, Randy. I'll send you a DM.
Bonnie, one thing to watch out for with Canadian utilities — the dispute process is quite different from the US. Ontario has the Ontario Energy Board which is the equivalent of a state PUC, but the complaint process is more formal. — Frank E
Good to know, Frank. Have you dealt with the OEB directly? The CPUC is the only regulatory body I've interacted with.
Not the OEB specifically, but I've worked with a couple of New England state regulators and the process is similar to Canada's from what I understand — more bureaucratic than the Southern states. — Frank E
The other consideration for cross-border work is that Canadian commercial clients tend to be more conservative about contingency arrangements. They're used to paying flat fees for consulting services. You might need to educate them on the contingency model. — Yuri P
That's a good insight, Yuri. My Ontario client actually pushed back on the contingency structure initially. I ended up doing a hybrid — smaller flat fee upfront plus a reduced contingency percentage. Worked for both of us.
Hybrid fee structures are underutilized in this business. It shows flexibility and builds trust with clients who are nervous about the contingency model. — Rachel K