1) What does the lifecycle of a utility bill audit look like?
Q: What are the steps and typical timing, assuming we have the needed data?
A: Typical lifecycle is 1 – 5 months, depending on utility responsiveness and scope of the audit.
Lifecycle Steps:
Intake & Authorization (Days 1–7)
Signed agreement
Bills, interval data, credentials provided
Data Collection & Validation (Weeks 1–3)
Confirm tariff, meters, riders, demand rules, taxes, interval completeness
Forensic Audit & Recalculation (Weeks 2–6)
Identify error drivers (rate class, demand, multipliers, riders, etc.)
Claim / Correction Submission (Weeks 4–10)
File dispute, request rebill/refund, initiate corrections
Utility Review & Negotiation (Months 2–5)
Back-and-forth with utility, supporting documentation
Resolution & Refund / Credit (Months 2–5+)
Refund or credit issued
Forward billing corrected
Ongoing Monitoring (up to 36 months)
Continued verification and savings capture (if forward-looking scope is included)
2) Do audits ever uncover operational issues (not just billing errors)?
Q: Are results sometimes operational?
A: Yes
They may identify:
Demand spikes from sequencing or controls
Power factor drivers
Abnormal baseloads
Equipment cycling issues
Metering or configuration problems
These can lead to operational recommendations, not just refunds.
3) Which utilities are most error-prone today?
Q: Where do you see the most recoverable errors?
A: Large investor-owned utilities (IOUs)
Examples mentioned:
ComEd
ConEd (NY)
Xcel Energy
Why:
Complex tariffs and riders
Frequent changes
High account volume
Rate-class nuance
4) Are billing errors increasing or decreasing with AMI (smart meters)?
Q: Has AMI (automated meter infrastructure) reduced billing errors?
A: No. Errors are increasing.
Why:
Interval-based complexity
TOU alignment challenges
Demand calculation nuance
More opportunities for misapplication
5) Has tariff complexity increased audit value?
Q: Is auditing more valuable today than historically?
A: Yes.
Layered tariffs, riders, TOU rules, and pass-throughs increase misapplication risk.
6) What should we screen for before sending a client?
Q: What data package is needed upfront?
A: Necessary pre-screen items:
Utility portal login access (BEST)
... or...
Usage History:
1 - 5 years of utility bills (PDF's)
...and ...Interval data report (CSV, XML, XSLX)
A signed Utility Bill Audit Agreement
7) How are issues confirmed and negotiated? Remote vs onsite?
Q: Is everything done remotely?
A: Typically Yes, but:
NASC has technicians who can go onsite for larger operations when necessary
Onsite work includes consumption analysis and verification of electrical loads/ infrastructure
8) Are refunds more likely from kWh or kW demand?
Q: Where do savings usually come from?
A: Depends on:
Tariff structure (demand-heavy vs energy-heavy)
Operating profile (peaky vs flat)
Error type (rate class, ratchet, TOU, multipliers, riders)
9) How long do savings last, what scopes are available, and how is compensation structured?
Q: Are savings to the client immediate, long-term, or both?
A: It depends but they can be both.
Immediate savings = Refund checks from historical bill errors
Long-term savings = corrected billing on future bills (long term savings)
Audit Scope Options (Important Clarification)
Q: Can a client opt out of the forward-looking (future savings) portion?
A: Yes, but only by exception. This is not to be advertised.
If a client is not comfortable committing to the forward-looking portion, NASC can support them under a historical-only audit scope.
Historical-only scope focuses strictly on past billing accuracy
Does not include forward tariff optimization or monitoring
Positioned as a narrower engagement, which can materially reduce total savings
Duration & Payment Structure
Q: How long is the agreement term?
A: If they don't find past billing errors but do find adjustment/ savings opportunities on future bills the term options are as follows:
Standard term: 36 months - (as written in the agreement)
Optional reductions: 24 months or 18 months - (this would require an exception and modified agreement)
Minimum term: 12 months - (this would require an exception and modified agreement)
Q: How often do clients pay NASC?
A:
Clients pay throughout the agreement term
Payments align with value realization
When refunds are issued
When savings appear on bills
Most commonly reconciled monthly with the billing cycle
10) Are there states or municipalities to avoid?
Q: Where is value limited?
A: Idaho
Historically lower recovery rates
Still open to audits for strong-fit, large buildings
11) What’s the largest savings achieved?
Q: Biggest result to date?
A: $1.45 million
12) Which industries produce the largest value?
Q: Best-fit industries?
A: Highest value:
Manufacturers & Fabricators
Property Owners & Managers
Breweries & Distilleries
Assisted Living / Nursing Homes
Educational Facilities
Healthcare Facilities
Pharmaceutical / Biotech
Religious Organizations
Non-Profits
13) What is the most common root cause of savings?
Q: What's the #1 issue found?
A: Rate classification errors
14) Client Eligibility
Q: Does the business owner need to own the building to qualify?
A: No.
The qualifying requirement is that the entity pays the utility bill.
Q: In multi-tenant properties (e.g., strip malls), can individual tenants qualify?
A: Yes.
As long as the entity / tenant / business is responsible for its own utility account, an audit can be performed on their behalf.
15) How are client bills and credentials handled?
Q: Login credentials v.s. Usage history (PDFs & spreadsheets)?
A: Both are acceptable but login credentials are much easier and less time consuming for the client
Surge collects everything and sends to NASC
Security notes:
Credentials used only to download bills
Additional assurance agreement provided upon request
16) Password timing & access duration
Q: When can clients change passwords?
A:
Historical-only audit = immediately after access
Future savings included = access required for duration of shared-savings term (Typically 36 months)
17) Audit Deliverables
Q: What does the client actually receive at the end of the audit?
A: NASC has provided sample audit reports (redacted/blank) to demonstrate outcomes.
First three examples show successful recoveries
Last two examples show cases where no historical or future billing issues were identified
This helps set clear expectations:
Some audits result in refunds/savings
Some confirm billing accuracy (no findings)
18) Typical refund sizing (rough guidance)
Q: What’s a realistic refund range?
A: Highly dependent, but example given:
$10,000/month utility spend
Likely refund check = $20,000 – $30,000 (estimate)
19) Audit success rate context
Q: How often do audits succeed?
A:
75% recovery rate in strong-fit industries and/or large IOU (Investor owned utilities) with complex rate structures
As low as 10 – 15% in other industries and/or some municipal utilities