Resource
The commercial energy cost reduction checklist for property managers
A practical, no-jargon walkthrough of how to audit your buildings’ energy bills, find recoverable TDSP overcharges, and structure contracts that hold — across one property or a whole portfolio.
1. Read the bill before the rate
- Separate supply (the per-kWh energy rate) from delivery (TDSP) charges — they are billed and negotiated differently.
- Identify your TDSP and confirm the delivery charges match the published tariff for your meter class.
- Check for demand charges (kW) and your load factor — high demand with low load factor is where money leaks.
- Flag any reactive power, metering or “other” line items you can’t explain.
2. Audit for recoverable overcharges
- Look back 12–24 months for TDSP charges billed at the wrong rate class or with incorrect multipliers.
- Confirm common-area and house accounts aren’t sitting on default/“hold-over” pricing.
- Check that any sub-metered or tenant-allocated load is being recovered against the right lease.
3. Map your exposure
- List every meter, supplier and contract end date across the building or portfolio.
- Mark which accounts are fixed, indexed or month-to-month right now.
- Note your 4CP exposure if you run any heavy or peak-coincident load.
4. Structure the contract to the building
- Match the product (fixed, index, or block-and-index) to how the building actually runs — not to a headline rate.
- Price across multiple licensed suppliers, not just your incumbent’s renewal offer.
- Align contract terms with your budget cycle and the building’s hold/sell horizon.
5. Don’t let savings leak back out
- Verify the first bill after switching matches the agreed rate and start date.
- Set a renewal reminder 4–6 months before each contract ends — never let one roll to default.
- Keep usage data clean for benchmarking, ENERGY STAR and any local disclosure ordinance.
Rather have us run it for you? Send one recent bill per building and UPG will work through this whole checklist as a free Energy Health Check — and hand you a written summary.
Run the checklist on your portfolio — free
One recent bill per building is all we need to audit your TDSP charges and show you where the savings are. No capex, no obligation.