Hiring A Utility Bill Audit Expert? Here Are The Questions You Need To Ask
There are many reasons you might consider hiring a utility bill audit expert. Perhaps you've heard that an audit can save you money on your utility bills. Or maybe you're just curious to see if there are any errors that could be costing you money. Either way, it's important to know what to ask before you hire someone to audit your utility bills.
Here is a list of a few key questions to ask.
What Is the Scope of the Audit?
When you're considering hiring a utility bill audit professional, it's important to first understand the scope of the audit. What exactly will the expert be looking at? Will they just review your most recent utility bills, or will they also look at historical data? Make sure you understand what is included in the audit so you can make an informed decision about whether or not it's right for you.
Most utility bill auditors will review your most recent months of utility bills. This is usually enough data to identify any errors or overcharges that may have occurred. Others may also review historical data to see if there are any patterns of overcharging. This ensures a thorough audit and identifies errors that may have gone unnoticed in the past.
What Kind of Errors Are You Looking for?
Utility bill audit experts are looking for a variety of different errors when they review your bills. Some of the most common errors include incorrect tariff charges, incorrectly calculated usage charges, and miscellaneous billing mistakes.
Tariff charges are the fixed charges associated with your account, such as the service charge or environmental levy. These usually vary based on your account type, so it's important to ensure you're being charged the correct amount.
On the other hand, usage charges are based on how much energy you use. This could be calculated incorrectly if your meter is not reading correctly or if there are any discrepancies in how your usage is calculated.
Finally, miscellaneous billing mistakes refer to any other errors that may be present on your bill. This could be something as simple as an incorrect address or a misspelled name. Whatever the error may be, it's important to have it corrected, so you're not overpaying for your utilities.
By asking these questions, you can get a better sense of what to expect from a utility bill audit expert. Be sure to ask for references and check them carefully before making your final decision.