Utility overcharge recovery for businesses
When a utility bills a commercial account above what its tariff allows, the overcharge can usually be recovered as a refund or credit, and the account corrected so it stops. This is how a claim works: what the utility needs, what your letter of authorization covers, how long it takes and what comes back.
What counts as an overcharge
An overcharge is any amount billed above what the governing tariff, rule or contract allowed. Most are not arithmetic mistakes. The bill adds up, but one of its inputs is wrong: the rate class, the meter multiplier, the season, the demand reading, a rider the site never needed, or a classification that does not match how the business operates.
| Error | What the refund covers | What keeps paying after |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong rate class | The difference between the billed and the correct schedule, for the period the rules allow | The lower rate on every future bill |
| Meter multiplier | The overstated share of every bill since the multiplier went wrong | Correct registration |
| Seasonal dates | The gap between seasonal and non-seasonal rates for the days billed out of season | Bills that follow the tariff calendar |
| Demand and ratchets | Billed demand above what the meter and the tariff support | Correct billing demand |
| Corporate classification | Charges that should not have applied to the account | Lower bills from the corrected classification |
| Estimated reads and duplicates | Duplicated or never-reconciled amounts | Actual reads and clean billing periods |
| Closed-site accounts | Charges billed after service should have stopped | Fewer accounts to pay |
What the utility needs to review a claim
| Item | Why the utility asks for it |
|---|---|
| Account number and service address | Identifies the exact account and meter the claim covers |
| A signed letter of authorization | Lets the utility discuss the account with Discovery and release billing history to it; some utilities require their own form |
| The error, stated precisely | For example: billed on the general-service schedule instead of the large-volume schedule, or summer rates billed before the tariff's start date |
| The tariff sheet or rule relied on | Shows which provision the bill should have followed |
| The months affected and the calculation | Rebuilds each bill as it should have been calculated and totals the difference |
| Supporting data | Interval or usage data, meter test results, equipment or voltage details, and operating schedules where eligibility depends on them |
| A rate change request, where needed | Some tariffs require the customer to elect a new rate in writing before it applies |
What a letter of authorization covers
The letter of authorization (LOA) is the document that lets Discovery act on your accounts with each utility. It covers:
- Requesting billing history, interval and usage data, rate and account records for the accounts you list.
- Discussing those accounts with the utility's billing, rates and large-account teams.
- Submitting inquiries and refund claims on your behalf, and receiving copies of the utility's responses.
It does not let anyone switch your supplier, change a rate, open or close an account or move payments without your written approval. You choose which accounts it covers and for how long, and every claim is approved by you before it is filed.
How a claim is built and paid
- Authorize. You sign a letter of authorization so we can request billing history, interval data and account records from each utility.
- Test every account. Each account is checked against its tariff, rate class, meter setup, riders and classification over 36 to 48 months of bills.
- Document. Each claim cites the tariff sheet, rule or program it relies on, the months affected and the calculation of what should have been billed.
- Approve. We present findings in a meeting, separating one-time refunds from recurring savings. Nothing is filed without your approval.
- File with the utility. We submit the claim to the utility's billing or large-account team and answer its questions.
- Escalate when needed. If the utility declines a documented claim, the next step is usually an informal complaint to the state commission, then a formal complaint. The commission's rules decide how far back a refund can go; see refund periods by state.
- Verify the refund and the fix. We confirm each credit or check as it posts and check later bills to make sure the correction held.
Initial findings usually arrive in 30 to 60 days. Formal refunds take a further 60 to 120 days, depending on the utility.
What recovered amounts look like
| Client | What was wrong | Refunds |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-state RNG producer | Overcharges and wrong rate classes across 10 states | $3,959,202 |
| National steel company | 17 accounts on the wrong rate class in 7 states, behind an existing energy manager | $374,326 |
| Protein processing plant, Missouri | Summer rates billed weeks before the tariff allowed, in two years | $166,958 |
| Diversified agribusiness | A stuck demand meter and a wrong rate schedule | $117,412 |
| Global chemical distributor | 1,000+ accounts with 87 providers audited continuously | $300,000+ |
Refunds go to you, as a bill credit or a check, as the utility chooses or as you request where the rules allow. Our fee is a share of refunds and verified savings, paid only after you receive them; see pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Who keeps the recovered money?
You do. Refunds are paid by the utility to you as a credit or a check. Discovery is paid a share of refunds and verified savings only after you receive them.
Will filing a claim hurt our relationship with the utility?
No. A documented billing inquiry is routine for utilities, and most claims are settled by the utility's billing team without a formal complaint.
What if the utility refuses a claim?
If a documented claim is declined, it can go to the state commission as an informal complaint and, if needed, a formal complaint. You approve each step.
How long do refunds take?
Initial findings usually arrive in 30 to 60 days. Formal refunds take a further 60 to 120 days, depending on the utility.
What does a letter of authorization allow?
It lets Discovery request billing history and account records, discuss the accounts you list with the utility and file claims you approve. It does not allow supplier, rate, account or payment changes without your written approval.
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.