cities & governments
Overview
Utility Management Services has a proven track record of recovering utility overcharges and reducing costs for cities, municipalities, and government entities of all sizes. From traffic signals and public safety buildings to town halls and water treatment plants, government facilities manage a wide range of utility accounts—each with opportunities for cost savings.
Managing municipal utility costs can be complex, especially with multiple meters, rate structures, and facilities operating around the clock. UMS conducts comprehensive utility bill audits and rate analyses across all accounts, ensuring no savings opportunity is overlooked. Our goal is to help cities maximize budgets, reduce waste, and ensure taxpayer dollars are used as efficiently as possible.
As a Commercial Utility Provider Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) recipient for the U.S. Army, UMS has successfully completed projects focused on streamlining utility expenses and improving cost efficiency. We bring that same level of expertise and accountability to local governments, helping public sector organizations achieve measurable savings without operational disruption.
Reduce Municipal Utility Costs with Government Energy Management
Cities and government agencies are under constant pressure to manage public sector budgets while maintaining essential services. With rising energy costs and increasing infrastructure demands, government energy management has become a critical component of financial planning and operational efficiency.
From local municipalities to federal facilities, utility expenses directly impact government budgets and taxpayer spending. Implementing effective municipal utility management strategies can help reduce costs, improve transparency, and support long-term sustainability goals.
Utility Management Services supports cities and government entities by:
- Identifying utility billing errors and recovering overcharges
- Reducing municipal energy and water costs across facilities
- Optimizing utility rates and contract structures
- Improving efficiency across public infrastructure and operations
- Supporting long-term government budget planning and cost control
By focusing on utility cost reduction and efficiency, cities and government organizations can better manage resources, reduce unnecessary spending, and reinvest savings into critical community services.
Savings Numbers
| Type | Max Annual Savings | Average Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Government/Utilities | $290,236 | $16,481 |
Case Studies
The City of Douglasville had seen 70% population growth over two decades, bringing downtown redevelopment and an increasingly complex utility portfolio with multiple accounts across different power providers.
True to their philosophy of staying ahead of best municipal practices, city leadership engaged UMS for a comprehensive utility rate analysis. UMS studied each account under varying rate structured, uncovering $27,000 in annual savings, then continued monitoring and found an additional $7,000 savings when the city added a new account.
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority serves 60,000+ residents in New Hanover County, NC and operates entirely on customer fees, making every dollar saved a rate increase avoided.
UMS conducted a full audit of CFPUA’s 192 electric accounts, identifying savings through two distinct paths: a billing error that resulted in a three-year refund, and a newly negotiated Power Purchase Contract with their provider for ongoing savings.
Where the largest opportunity required a slight operational shift, UMS advised through that process as well. The result: over $290,236 in annual savings, with two accounts alone generating $119,628 in savings within just six months.
When the new City of Forest Park City Manager, Ricky Clark set ambitious goals for the first 100 days, funding those goals meant finding savings fast. With 117 electric accounts on the books, Forest Park was a strong candidate for a utility review.
UMS downloaded hourly usage data from the power provider, reconstructed past bills, and analyzed consumption patterns to identify the most cost-effective rate structures. The result was $16,000 in annual savings, with no operational changes required, exactly the outcome Mayor Angelyne Butler and City Council were hoping to see.
When newly appointed City Manager, John Klimm of the City of Madison finished overseeing the renovation of the historic City Hall, his next priority was finding new sources of funding.
After a brief meeting with UMS, Finance Director, Karen Stapp, supplied one month of bills for every account that same afternoon. Within weeks, UMS returned results showing several accounts eligible for rate adjustments, yielding $28,000 in annual savings. UMS implemented these changes on the city’s behalf and continues to document savings on a quarterly basis.
testimonials
