FAQ

Why conduct a utility audit? Overcharges and errors exist nationally. Are your utility bills paid without verification? If you use automatic bill-pay, you may never even review your bill. If youare like the majority of our clients, you assume your bills are correct. After all, isn’t it the utility’s responsibility to charge the lowest rates and ensure their bills are correct. NO! Surprisingly, it isn’t! It is YOUR responsibility.

How much does this service cost? We work strictly on a contingency basis. There are no upfront costs or fees for our service. If Audit Associates completes your audit and does not obtain any savings, refunds or credits for your company, there is NO CHARGE for our service. Your only expense is the small amount of time it takes to provide us with copies of your current bills.

What is the audit process? The audit process has two stages. The first stage is cost containment. Every line item of current billings will be analyzed to identify erroneous charges for incorrect meter readings, rates and tariffs, pass-through fees and surcharges, and usage-billing anomalies so as to insure you are being billed accurately and only legitimate charges are actually owed. If errors are identified, we work with the vendors to get them corrected, thereby “stopping the bleeding”, reducing your expense going forward, and creating future savings.

The second stage of an audit comprises our work with the vendors and/or government agencies obtaining refunds for the same charges we identified in the first stage of the audit. In most cased, these prior overcharges have existed for years and can add up to sizable refunds or credits.

What if I like my present provider? In most cases it is not necessary to change suppliers to get a better rate. Many of our clients are satisfied with their current providers. Utility deregulation now allows smaller companies to obtain rates that were previously offered only to the largest corporations. However, you have to know how to obtain these preferred rates. We can help negotiate these for you, generally through your present carrier or supplier. We do not represent and vendors and are truly independent to represent our clients allowing us to maintain our objectiveness and impartiality.

What are the chances of obtaining cost savings, refunds or credits? Based on our 30+ years in business, there is nearly a 90% chance we will find cost savings, refunds or credits for you! The amount of the savings or refunds to be expected all depends on what’s in your current bills. We offer no guarantee of future savings, refunds or credits nor the amounts of each, if any.

Do you get my refund? NO! We NEVER handle our client’s money! Your refund is issued either as a credit on your utility bill or a refund check. We bill you only after you receive the refund or credit, just as we bill only after you receive your monthly savings.

Why would I not want to do this? When was the last time someone asked you for the opportunity to put some of your money back in your pocket without any expense to you?