Utilities
Utility bills are hard to check. They mix usage, rate schedules, riders, taxes and meter data on one statement, and most businesses pay them on time without testing the math. Errors can go unnoticed.
A partner firm can review your utility invoices and tell you whether the charges match the rates that apply to you.
Fairview Audit connects you with a partner firm. The review itself is done by the firm, not by Fairview.
What a utility review looks at
A review compares the charges on your statements with the tariff that governs your account. A tariff is a schedule of the rates, terms and conditions under which a utility provides service, and a state regulator usually oversees it. Demand charges, for example, are based on your peak use over a short interval and are measured in kilowatts, not total energy used. Applying a tariff takes careful reading, which is why mistakes happen.
Common areas include:
- The rate class assigned to each account, and whether it still fits how you use the service.
- Meter readings, multipliers and estimated reads.
- Demand and usage charges, and how they were calculated.
- Taxes and fees added to the bill, including any exemption you should have received. [VERIFY: which tax exemptions apply to your business type and location]
- Account changes after a move, a closure or a change of ownership.
- Charges for service points you no longer occupy.
Businesses with sites in several states face extra complexity, because each utility and each jurisdiction has its own rules. A review can bring those accounts into one view.
What you provide
Your partner firm will confirm the list. Expect to gather:
- Utility statements for each account and service address.
- A list of every site, with the account number for each.
- Any contracts with energy suppliers, where you buy outside the default utility.
- Details of recent changes, such as new equipment, new tenants or closed sites.
- Correspondence with the utility about disputes, credits or estimated bills.
- Tax exemption certificates, if you hold them.
- Contact details for the person who manages facilities or pays the bills.
If you rent space and the landlord passes utility costs through to you, include the lease pages that describe how those costs are shared. See lease audit and compliance for related work.
What happens after you submit a request
- You choose a request path and submit the form.
- The request goes to a matched partner firm, or to Fairview for manual matching.
- A partner firm contacts you to talk through your accounts and its terms.
- You share your statements and supporting documents.
- The partner firm reports its findings to you.
- You and the firm agree how to raise any corrections with the utility.
You remain part of the process throughout. Any engagement and any fees are between you and the partner firm. [CONFIRM: a partner firm supplies and approves how it handles utility refunds and credits]
Who this suits
This category suits a business that:
- Operates from several locations, or has moved or closed sites.
- Has seen bills change with no change in operations.
- Runs equipment that draws heavy power or water.
- Has never had a second person check its utility statements.
More than one type of partner firm may cover utilities, and the right one depends on the size of your business.
How Fairview matches you
There are three request paths: larger business, smaller business, and not sure or another need. Each has its own form. Start with the larger business form, the smaller business form or the other needs form. Fairview sends your request to the matched partner firm, or reviews it by hand if you are not sure. You then speak with the firm directly. The page on how it works walks through each step.
An independent partner firm that specializes in utilities handles this work. Fairview Audit makes the match. We do not perform the review ourselves.Who does the work
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to switch utility providers?
No. A review checks the charges on your current accounts. Whether a firm also advises on suppliers is up to that firm. [CONFIRM: a partner firm supplies and approves this statement]
Which utilities are covered?
Electric, gas and water are the usual ones. Ask the partner firm which services it reviews.
Can an old billing error be corrected?
It depends on the utility, the rules that apply to it and the age of the error. [VERIFY: any limits on how far back utility billing errors can be corrected]
Who sets the fee?
The partner firm sets it under its own terms. Fairview does not.
Related pages
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.