Why 'We Already Have an Energy Manager' Is Not the Same as Having Your Bills Audited by An Outside Party.

When we approach a prospective client about a utility bill audit, we often hear: 'We already have an energy manager. We track our consumption very carefully.' This response, while well-intentioned, reflects a misunderstanding of what an independent utility bill audit can accomplish. .

Energy management is focused on consumption: how much electricity, gas, and water are you using, and how can you use less? It involves monitoring systems, benchmarking against peers, identifying efficiency opportunities, and implementing projects to reduce consumption.

Utility bill auditing is focused on billing accuracy: are the bills you are receiving correctly calculated based on your actual consumption? Do they reflect the appropriate rate classification, tariff structure, and applicable tax exemptions? Has the utility applied the correct demand measurement methodology?

These disciplines are complementary but completely distinct. An organization can have excellent energy management and still have systematic billing errors that have persisted for years. The energy manager knows what you consumed. The auditor determines whether you were correctly charged for it. Both questions matter, and the specific expertise required is different.