SM Engineering Blog

Case Study – Lessons Learned from Auditing Trash Bills in St. Paul, Minnesota

Recently, the city of St. Paul, Minnesota, published a study of its trash collection system through a trash bill audit. Currently, the city does not have organized trash collection. Instead, residents are responsible for arranging their own trash pick-up. The city...

Case Study – Is Your Company Guilty of Too Many Electricity Meters?

by Satya Garg

Are you thinking about expanding your facility? Perhaps you’ve outgrown your current property, or maybe you want to add an entirely new product that requires its own space. If so, has your contractor included a new electricity meter in the building plans? Adding...

How Utility Companies Setup Your Electric Rate

by Satya Garg

Ever wonder how your utility company settles on what to charge your company for electricity? Scrutinizing your utility bill usually does little to solve the mystery of how your provider decides your electric rate. But SM Engineering can help. Here’s a brief look at...

Taking the Stink Out of Your Garbage Bill

by Satya Garg

Did you know garbage bills are not regulated by your state? That’s right—waste collection companies can charge you at-whim for their services. Often, these companies go to great lengths to make their charges look mandatory. But fortunately for you, this bill is...

Is Your Electric Utility Meter Calibrated Correctly?

by Satya Garg

Your electricity meter plays a significant role in determining the amount you pay for electricity each month. If it’s measuring your electricity usage accurately, you know that your utility bill is likely correct. But how do you know if your meter is calibrated...

An Energy Consultant’s View on the Connection Between Electricity Use & Economic Activity

by Satya Garg

For decades, economists and energy experts have observed a strong connection between a country’s electricity use and economic activity. As economic activity and populations increased, so did electricity use. But experts have noticed these indicators have grown farther...

7 Most Common Utility Bill Rates: Which Ones Can Spike Your Utility Expenses?

by Satya Garg

There are 3,800 utility companies across North America. Most of them use just seven types of utility bill rates. Do you know which ones your utility company uses? If you don’t, you’re not alone. With so many different bill structures, customers like you...

How to Qualify for a Utility Tax Exemption

by Satya Garg

Many state governments offer utility tax exemptions to encourage businesses to operate in their states. Every state has a different set of eligibility standards, which you can view on the SM Engineering website. But most employ a few common requirements to determine...

9 Ways to Save on Utility Expenses Caused by Water Billing Errors

by Satya Garg

Saving Water at Industrial Plants Your water and sewer usage are billed separately. Water is usually metered, while the sewer bill is based on water usage. This method of billing results in a lot of overcharges. Here are a few reasons why: 1. Water charges are based...

Success Stories – Real-Life Business Utility Rate Analysis

by Satya Garg

Utility companies consider many different factors when they put together your utility bill. Rates, tariffs, demand charges, revenue taxes, surcharges, fuel adjustments, reactive charges, and miscellaneous credits can all be miscalculated or misapplied to your bill....

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