Troy & Banks alternative for manufacturers
Troy & Banks and Discovery Energy both audit utility bills on contingency, but they are built for different clients. Here is how they differ, from each firm's public information, and which kind of organization each tends to fit.
What Troy & Banks does
Troy & Banks is a contingency-based forensic audit firm founded in 1991 in Buffalo, New York. Its website describes audits of electric, gas, water and sewer, telecom, street lights, cable franchise fees, waste and merchant services, with a strong focus on state agencies, municipalities, school districts and higher education, alongside healthcare, manufacturing and enterprise clients. Public records show it winning city and county audit contracts; one 2015 contract with Columbus, Georgia set its fee at 24% of savings.
For a public agency with telecom, street lighting and water bills to review, that breadth is a real strength.
How the two firms differ
| Troy & Banks | Discovery Energy | |
|---|---|---|
| Main clients | Public sector first, then healthcare, manufacturing and enterprises | Multi-site industrial companies |
| Bills audited | Electric, gas, water and sewer, telecom, street lights, franchise fees, waste, merchant services | Electricity and natural gas, at the tariff level |
| Beyond the audit | Supplier and rate review, renewable programs | Bill pay for every utility type, competitive procurement, TaraBase reporting, Scope 1 and 2 data |
| Published results | Client recoveries such as municipal and transit agencies | Exact refunds per client case, e.g. $3,959,202 for an RNG producer and $374,326 for a steel company |
| Fee | Contingency; 24% of savings in one public contract | Contingency, usually 15% to 50% of refunds and verified savings |
| Founded | 1991, Buffalo, NY | 2000, South Jordan, Utah |
When Discovery Energy may fit better
- Your largest bills are electricity and gas at plants, with demand charges, large-volume gas schedules or transport service.
- You buy power in PJM or ERCOT, where capacity tags and 4CP charges move with each site's peaks.
- You want audits, bill pay and procurement on one account inventory, including sites you acquire next quarter.
- You already have an energy manager or broker and want an independent second opinion.
When Troy & Banks may fit better
- You are a public agency that needs a procurement-ready contract for many spend categories.
- Telecom, street lights, water or franchise fees are a large share of what you want reviewed.
Both firms work on contingency, so the comparison comes down to fit. Ask each for cases that look like your organization, and compare fee base, fee period and who verifies savings. Discovery Energy is not affiliated with Troy & Banks; the facts above come from Troy & Banks' own website and public records as of October 31, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Discovery Energy affiliated with Troy & Banks?
No. They are independent firms. This comparison uses Troy & Banks' own website and public records.
Do both firms work on contingency?
Yes. Both are paid from refunds and savings rather than upfront fees. One public contract set Troy & Banks' fee at 24% of savings; Discovery is usually paid 15% to 50% of refunds and verified savings.
Does Discovery audit telecom or water bills?
No. Discovery audits electricity and natural gas. It can pay water, sewer and other utility bills through bill pay, but does not audit their rates.
Can we use both firms?
Yes, if their scopes are split clearly, for example telecom with one firm and industrial electricity and gas with another. Make sure the contracts do not both claim the same savings.
Find out what your bills should have cost.
Send one recent bill per site, or a list of accounts. We tell you where we expect findings before you sign anything. No upfront audit fee.