Industry
Hospitality
Challenge
A multi‑state hotel group was unknowingly charged an incorrect utility rate code, causing one location to pay significantly higher gas distribution costs than necessary.
Results
NextEra Advisors corrected the rate code with the utility, delivering over $50K in annual savings and improving supplier pricing for future energy procurement.
Product
Utility Bill Review
Challenge
When NextEra Advisors began working with this multi-state owner/operator hotel group, our energy experts reviewed the utility bills for any errors. We quickly noticed a rate code discrepancy with one of the client’s locations during the rate code analysis; the utility distribution portion of the bill was coded in a way that charged the client a significantly higher rate than appropriate.
Solution
A company’s rate code is based on how much the facility uses for natural gas and electricity, and what some tariffs will allow. Typically, the utility company is responsible for ensuring that the rate code aligns with the facility’s usage, however they are not required to make adjustments if it is incorrect. NextEra Advisors reached out to the client’s utility company and submitted a request form on behalf of the client to get the rate code reviewed and changed. By changing the rate code from small commercial to industrial size it would provide a lower cost per unit basis.
Results
Ultimately, through this analysis, NextEra Advisors worked with the client’s utility company and assisted the client in completing the necessary paperwork in order for the rate code to be changed. This enabled the client to save over $50,000 annually at this location on their gas utility invoice. In addition, correcting the rate code also had a positive impact on the supplier basis pricing when it came time to issue energy procurement bids.
