How far back can I dispute an overcharge?

Texas tariff rules typically allow disputes within 4 years of the billing date. PUCT complaints have a separate timeline. Document everything and file in writing with the REP first.

What's the most common audit finding?

Wrong rate class — businesses outgrow their original tariff and don't realize a higher demand-tier rate would actually be cheaper, or vice versa. Always re-evaluate rate class at every contract renewal.

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Business · Bill audit

Business Electricity Bill Audit — Find Hidden Overcharges

Commercial electricity bills are notoriously dense. A typical mid-market account has 8-15 line items per month spanning energy, capacity, transmission, ancillary, taxes, and surcharges. Errors hide easily.

Updated May 2026 Enri Zhulati 2 min read

Enri Zhulati 2 min read 235 words

Where errors show up

Wrong rate class (you're billed as a small commercial when you should be on a TOU rate that'd save 15%), unused contracted demand (you're paying for 200 kW of capacity but peak at 80 kW), TDU tariff misclassification, missed nodal price adjustments, and double-billed ancillary services.

How to audit

Pull 12 months of bills. Build a spreadsheet of each line item by month. Compare against your TDU's published tariff for your rate class. Pull your meter's 15-minute interval data from the smart meter portal. Reconcile billed kWh vs. interval-recorded kWh. Errors of 1-3% are common; >5% errors trigger formal disputes.

When to hire it out

For accounts spending under $50K/year on electricity, DIY usually pencils. Above that, third-party energy management consultants typically work on contingency (15-25% of recovered overcharges) and have software that automates the audit. Pays for itself if there's anything to find.

The Bottom Line

Talk to a commercial advisor

Frequently asked.

How far back can I dispute an overcharge?: Texas tariff rules typically allow disputes within 4 years of the billing date. PUCT complaints have a separate timeline. Document everything and file in writing with the REP first.
What's the most common audit finding?: Wrong rate class — businesses outgrow their original tariff and don't realize a higher demand-tier rate would actually be cheaper, or vice versa. Always re-evaluate rate class at every contract renewal.

Editorial Standards

How we research and review.

Independently researched. Every claim is verified against primary sources (PUCT, ERCOT, EFLs).
No paid placement. Rankings are never influenced by advertising or referral compensation.
Reviewed by Enri Zhulati, Consumer Advocate. Plan data is pulled live from the electricrates.org API on every build and cross-checked against the EFL each REP publishes.

Read our full standards

Enri Zhulati

Consumer Advocate

Enri knows the regulations, the fine print, and the tricks some retail electricity providers use. He's spent nearly a decade learning how to spot hidden fees, misleading teaser rates, and contracts that sound good but cost more. He writes the guides that show you what they're hiding — his goal is to help Texans avoid the traps and find plans that actually save money.

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Sources

Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) — Commercial Rate Filings
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) — Wholesale Market Reports
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) — Texas Industrial Electricity Data
ComparePower.com — Real-Time Plan & Rate Database

Sources are cited for informational purposes. Data may have been updated since publication.

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