Case Study
DCC Metal Recycling:
Industrial Utility Bill Audit
Overview
DCC Metal Recycling, also known as Don’s Car Crushing, is a third-generation family-run scrap metal business operating across six locations. When DCC invested in a new industrial metal shredder with an operating capacity of 300 tons, their energy consumption and utility bills increased significantly. Controller Keith Drach began looking for ways to reduce those high energy costs and reached out to Utility Management Services (UMS).
UMS obtained 12 months of DCC’s historical billing data directly from their power provider. Leveraging proprietary software RateMaster and deep utility tariff expertise, the UMS team analyzed DCC’s billing data in detail, and quickly identified an excessive monthly facility charge that should not have been applied to DCC’s accounts.
Knowing the charge was inappropriate, UMS’s in-house corporate counsel took the fight directly to the public utility commission, advocating on DCC’s behalf. The commission ruled in DCC’s favor, and the provider was required to reduce the charge.
Combined with additional pricing plan savings opportunities identified during the audit, DCC’s total savings added up to $150,000 in ongoing annual utility bill reductions with no operational changes required.
“After getting the results of my analysis, I could not believe how much I was being overcharged by the power company. The expertise of the UMS team is extremely valuable, and they could save your business a lot of money. I highly recommend having them perform a risk-free audit, even if you’ve had one done before – and if they do not find savings, there is no charge.”
The Facts
- DCC Metal is a third generation-run scrap metal recycling center with six different locations
- UMS obtained data directly from their power provider and utilized our software to analyze DCC’s interval data
- Our analysts identified an excessive utility charge that we successfully advocated for the provider to reduce
- All savings opportunities found and implemented added up to approximately $150,000 in reduced costs, added back to DCC’s bottom line annually