Utility bill audits for warehousing and distribution
Distribution networks run dozens of sites on as many utilities, each with lighting, HVAC, dock equipment, conveyors and battery charging. Sites open, close and change hands with leases. Every change is a chance for an account to end up on the wrong rate or keep billing after it should stop.
Why warehousing and distribution bills drift
- Forklift and fleet battery charging adds demand peaks the original rate class never assumed.
- Conveyors and sortation lines raise demand in peak season, and a ratchet can keep that peak on the bill for months.
- Lease turnover leaves accounts in old names or billing after a site closes. See closed-site accounts.
- Yard lighting, gates, signs and guard houses sit on small separate accounts no one reviews.
- Hard-to-reach meters get estimated reads that are never trued up.
What an audit checks
| Check | Why it matters here |
|---|---|
| Rate class | Whether each site is on a demand or non-demand schedule that fits its load today |
| Demand and ratchets | Charging and peak-season sortation can set billing demand for months |
| Capacity tags and 4CP | Afternoon peaks in PJM and ERCOT set a year of capacity and transmission cost |
| Account inventory | Every meter at every site, reconciled with what accounts payable paid |
| Site changes | Accounts that should have closed, transferred or changed name with a lease |
saved for a multi-location manufacturer. See the manufacturing results and all case studies.
Bill pay for networks that change every quarter
For distribution networks, keeping every bill paid on time often matters as much as recovering past errors. Bill pay brings every account into one inventory, checks each bill before payment and codes it to the right site and GL, so new and closing sites are handled the same way every time. Refrigerated warehouses have their own page: cold storage and logistics.
Frequently asked questions
Why do distribution centers pay demand charges at all?
Most commercial schedules above a size threshold bill peak kW as well as kWh. Conveyors, HVAC and battery charging all add to the peak.
Can battery charging change our rate class?
It can. Charging changes when and how much power a site draws, which can make a different schedule cheaper or push a site over a threshold. Only the utility's tariff decides.
How do audits work across many small sites?
The audit builds the account list from what accounts payable paid, then tests every account against its tariff. A 15-account pilot is available, and there is no upfront fee.
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.