Energy
Energy companies include oil and gas operators, power producers, renewable developers, pipeline and midstream firms, and the service businesses that support them.
This page describes cost areas common to the sector and where a review might apply. Energy is a proposed industry on this site. No partner firm has named it, so nothing here says a firm serves it today. [CONFIRM: partner industry detail] Fairview Audit connects businesses with partner firms and does not perform reviews itself.
What makes energy costs different
Energy businesses hold a lot of physical property. Wells, pipelines, generating plants, solar and wind sites, substations, tank farms, compressor stations and storage yards are all assets that may be taxed, insured, leased and maintained. Many sit in rural areas, spread over several taxing jurisdictions.
Asset values also move. Equipment ages, sites are built or retired, and commodity prices change the economics of a field. A tax bill set on one assumption can drift away from the facts on the ground.
Most energy firms also depend on contractors. Drilling, construction, inspection, trucking and maintenance crews may all bill separately, sometimes through several tiers of agreements.
Cost areas energy companies commonly have
The mix depends on whether you produce, move, generate or serve. These are common areas.
- Property taxes on land, buildings, equipment and, in some places, mineral or pipeline interests.
- Leases for land, easements, offices and equipment yards.
- Contractor and supplier agreements for field work and maintenance.
- Insurance for assets, operations and workers.
- Fuel, freight and logistics.
- Utilities at plants, offices and remote sites.
Property tax in energy
Property tax is the area most tied to this sector, and it has its own category page. A review looks at how your property was classified and valued by the taxing authority, whether all listed assets still exist and whether the assessment reflects their condition. Rules differ widely between jurisdictions. Many states assess pipelines and utilities as a single operating unit at the state level instead of through the local office, and some include oil and gas wells [VERIFY: how energy property is assessed in the relevant jurisdictions]. Appeal deadlines vary by state and often by county, so timing matters.
Property tax records can be complicated for an energy firm because assets are scattered, renamed or sold. A review often starts with a clean asset list that matches the tax rolls. See property tax for energy for what that review examines and what to have ready.
The full set of cost categories is on the services page. Energy businesses may also find the supplier contract compliance page useful for contractor agreements, though no energy-specific page exists for it yet.
How matching works
Fairview has three request paths: larger business, smaller business, and not sure or another need. There is no fixed size cut-off. Fairview matches each request by hand. Use the larger form or smaller form if you know which applies, or the other needs form if you are unsure. With the last option, Fairview matches you by hand.
Because energy is a proposed industry, a match is not guaranteed. If a partner firm takes your request, it contacts you directly. You share documents, the firm reports its findings and you stay involved. Any engagement and fees are between you and the firm under its own terms. The how it works page lists the steps.
Note: Fairview connects you with partner firms. It does not give tax or legal advice, and it does not promise any result.
Who this page suits
It suits tax managers, controllers and finance leads at energy companies who hold property in several places and want to understand what a review would cover. It also suits owners of smaller energy service firms with yards, vehicles and equipment on the tax rolls.
Frequently asked questions
Does a partner firm serve energy today?
Fairview has not confirmed that. Energy is a proposed industry. [CONFIRM: a partner firm supplies and approves this statement]
Does a property tax review change my assessment?
A review identifies possible issues. Any change is decided by the taxing authority under its own process.
Does Fairview file appeals?
No. Fairview connects you with partner firms. Any filing work is between you and the firm, under its own terms.
Tell us what you need reviewed. We match you by hand with an independent partner firm. You keep your existing vendors.Find out what you are overpaying.