Has your organization decided to have a utility bill checkup? This overview outlines what you should consider when selecting an audit company. There are several types of utility bill audits. Make sure that your organization is getting yours from an experienced audit firm and that the audit will be comprehensive.
What Experience Does The Audit Team Have?
An audit firm should have five or more years of experience. They should be comfortable in dealing with the programs available in many states. This is especially important if your organization operates in multiple states. The audit firm must keep up-to-date with the specifics of each state's programs, which change frequently. For example a few states include a review of bills going back for 4 years, while most states only include 3 years of history. Some states include churches, 501(c)(3) organizations, and veterans groups, while other states only include churches in the recovery of telecom, water, sewer, and waste disposal overcharges.
How Comprehensive Is The Audit?
Make sure that you are getting a comprehensive audit. Will the audit company examine all utility services such as electric, gas, water, sewer, and waste disposal as well as all telecom services such as phone, internet, and cable? Some firms specialize in audits of telecom services only. Other firms only review the sales and use taxes imposed by the utility and telecom service provider. While yet other companies will only audit electric and gas usage. You want to select a company that will review all utility and telecom services that are eligible in your state. Know more 'bout audit firm Singapore.
Does The Size Or Location Of Your Organization Matter?
Some utility bill audit companies only work with larger customers, for example those with utility bills of $10,000 or more per month. There are other audit companies that work with any size organization from the small church on the corner to a large manufacturing company with facilities in many states. If your organization is told that they are not eligible for an audit, find out why. It may mean that the audit company is better suited to work with organizations that are larger or smaller than yours. It could also mean that they are not current on all the available programs in your state. If your size or location is the reason, find a different utility bill audit company.
Are Utility Bill Audits Their Only Business Or An Add On?
Firms specialize in different facets of the utility business. For industrial organizations, some firms will go onsite and do an in-depth review of the energy efficiency of a facility. These audits can be expensive and take up the organization's staff time. Also the resulting recommendations may include capital expenditures on your part.
Other firms will connect you to alternative energy suppliers. This is available as an option in states where electricity and / or gas services have been deregulated. Some firms make their money in the sale of energy-efficient equipment and add a utility bill audit as a lead generator.
It's best to find a company that only audits utility and telecom bills. These audits need not be done at your site, so there will be no interruptions to your workflow and there will be minimal impact on your staff's time. Also the audit company should negotiate on your behalf with the utilities to obtain all your refunds and credits and not deliver a list of recommendations for you to handle.