Meter multiplier errors
A meter multiplier error occurs when the factor a utility uses to convert a meter's reading into billed usage does not match the meter actually installed. Every bill is then wrong by the same proportion, silently, until someone checks the multiplier against the meter configuration.
Why it compounds
The bill still adds up. Usage looks plausible because it is a fixed multiple of the truth. Neither AP nor the utility's system flags it, so it can persist for years.
How to check
- Note the meter number and multiplier printed on the bill.
- Compare with the meter and transformer ratings at the site.
- Look for a step change in usage or demand in the month after any meter exchange.
- Compare billed usage with interval data, if you have it.
What can be recovered
Over-billing is generally refundable for the period the state and utility allow, which is typically 1 to 5 years, set by each state and utility. Under-billing can also be back-billed by the utility, which is one more reason to check before the utility does.
Questions buyers ask
What is a meter multiplier?
A factor that converts what a meter records into the usage quantity used for billing. Large commercial and industrial meters often record a fraction of actual flow through current or potential transformers, so the reading must be multiplied.
When do multiplier errors usually start?
Most often after a meter exchange or transformer change, when the billing system keeps the old multiplier or receives the wrong new one.
Find out what your bills should have cost.
Send one recent bill per site, or a list of accounts. We tell you where we expect findings before you sign anything. No upfront audit fee.