utility bill
processing
Flow can provide a full service payable solution whereby we receive, process, and pay our client’s reoccurring utility bills.
consumption
MONITORING & Reporting
The MOST fundamental component of ANY SUCCESSFUL energy management initiative requires analyzing and monitoring every utility bill every month.
vacant
recovery
Again and again, vacant recovery proves to be one of the most significant sources of cost control for multifamily properties.
Other Energy Services
Our Services Utility Bill Processing
Many organizations simply receive their utility bills in their accounting department which then processes the bills and sends payment. It is often sited that an organization’s internal costs for processing invoices is in the $12 range per bill—substantially more if that process is too slow and results in a late fee. And, very little is done with the important information found on the bills necessary to management and control energy costs.
By outsourcing the payables process to Flow, companies will see an immediate decrease in the expense associated with processing bills, plus, they get all the benefits Flow offers to help them reduce the cost on those bills.
Flow’s can provide a full service payable solution whereby we receive, process, and pay our client’s reoccurring utility bills. In processing, each invoice (whether in paper or electronic format) will be scanned and various data points from the invoices will be collected. All bills will have numerous validation rules applied to them to ensure they are “ok to pay”. Accounts Payable/GL files will be sent to clients for use in their software systems. Benefits of this service include effecting on going energy management, substantially reduced client overhead costs, accurate utility financial data, eliminated late fees, avoided shut offs, and allows client to focus on core operations.
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Consumption Monitoring & Reporting
The most effective energy management programs are ongoing and require a host of integrated tools and analysis. Too often, companies react only when they see the affects of energy consumption problems on their financial statements and then scramble to try and figure out what is wrong. This usually results in more high bills coming in while they try to figure out the problems. Worse, they typically find that they have several problems which require a lot of effort and expense to correct.
When you contract with Flow to provide ongoing monitoring you will have the peace of mind knowing that your utility consumption and cost is being addressed as those bills arrive. Addressing problems as they happen helps to ensure that your expenses stay in line with budgets. Further, with ongoing monitoring, your staff is not overwhelmed with an unmanageable task of addressing too many long existing problems. We help your staff by prioritizing problems so that they can effectively solve them as they occur.
Flow uses state-of-the-art analytical programs and our analysts are well experienced at reviewing energy & water consumption patterns, rates, and weather effects. When each bill comes into to Flow, it will be analyzed to ensure the consumption is where it is expected to be per seasonal billing period. Flow will report any account to client’s field operations that needs to be looked into. Flow can automatically create work orders for clients if their software and business operations use work orders. More importantly, Flow can provide your staff with suggested and proven methods for identifying and solving the consumption problems.
Additionally, Flow will flag accounts that have been estimated longer than they should be, if an account is missing (has not been received by Flow within expected time), and identify accounts that have no usage so client can determine if account is necessary or if it can be closed. Flow will evaluate properties by benchmarking to similar accounts or property types and make recommendation on where to focus efforts to reduce energy expenses.”
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Vacant Recovery
Even thought your tenants may be required to pay for their utilities per the lease agreement, they don’t always uphold that responsibility. Analyzing utility bills and comparing them to your tenant's occupancy period can be time consuming and difficult process. And, if such a process exists, it is usually inconsistent. FLOW’s system will compare service period dates to tenant occupancy dates and, when a conflict exists, FLOW will prorate the bill to the resident’s occupancy period and provide the client with a charge file that will allow client to collect and recover those costs. This process occurs on every utility bills that Flow processes for an apartment unit. Reporting is available to client to help go after repeat offenders and to help ensure your properties improve on the utility transfer at lease signing.
Further, our system provides and effective tool for your organization to manage utility expenses in units that are vacant. Utility expenses in vacant units add no value to your organization and are an expense that needs to be controlled. Flow will provide reporting to your organization on units that exceed predetermine amounts so that your internal processes can be improved and maintained to ensure your organization does not spend more than necessary for utilities in vacant units.”
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Other Energy Services
Project Management
FLOW has numerous relationships with contractors nationwide that can perform your energy related improvements. Each contractor has different products, approaches, solutions, terms, and strengths & weaknesses.
FLOW will perform all the analysis necessary and provide recommendations as to the best way to achieve your goals and which contractor is the best fit for the project. FLOW will develop the scope of work, evaluate the bids, and assist property during the project phase. Once completed and, if needed, FLOW will evaluate all future bills to ensure objectives were met.
Flow has extensive experience with the following project types:
· Water Conservation
· Lighting Rehabs
· HVAC Conversions
· Boiler Replacement
· LEED Process Management
· Chiller & Cooling Tower Replacements
· Pumps, Motors, and VFD’s
· Metering and Submetering
· Roofing Systems
· Domestic Hot Water System
Green Buildings & LEED
Energy and environmental concerns often focus on buildings as buildings are responsible for much of this country’s energy use and, consequently, the negative effects associated with that energy use. Several programs are available to help building owners reduce energy and environmental impacts and also recognize buildings that do it well.
The U.S. Green Building Council oversees the nationally accepted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. LEED is a third party certification program and the benchmark for design, construction and operation of high performance buildings. LEED certified buildings are recognized as environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. Flow can assist your organization in pursuing LEED rating for your buildings.
Flow can evaluate your business and make recommendations for using Energy Star products to improve efficiency and better the environment. Through our monitoring program, we can also electronically submit your building’s data to the Portfolio Manager program so that you can continuously benchmark your building’s performance against similar buildings.
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More Multifamily Energy Services
The budgeting process can be very difficult and takes up a lot of company resources. Flow can provide budgets based on historical consumption, predicted consumption and expected utility rates.
Our budgets are done account by account and included assumptions. Account level budgeting allows for exact future variance reporting. Energy budgets are never going to be exact but Flow can easily take this burden away from your staff and produce reliable and logical budgets based on known circumstances.
Energy Procurement & Deregulation
Flow will oversee your total energy procurement strategy for natural gas, electricity, propane, fuel oil, and transportation fuels. We will shop for the best rates and help you achieve the best pricing. Flow does not use arbitrary terms of 12, 18, or 24 months, we match the terms to meet specific customer business objectives.
We will also advise during the term of your contract on any opportunities that exist to “re-lock” to achieve better rates or on conditions whereby your organization could profit from shorting their positions. Flow will provide updates as to current market conditions over the contract term to help you make the most informed decisions and achieve the best long term pricing.
Flow ensures its suppliers fully understand and have experience operating in the regulatory environment of your local utility company.
We also have solutions for Green or Renewable energy, renewable energy credits, and greenhouse gas reduction agreements.
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Energy Consulting & Planning
Flow offers full service energy consulting for buildings and building operations. Each organization has its own set of unique needs. We will discuss your objectives and present a plan of attack to best achieve your goals.
Our solutions typically include onsite energy audits and utility bill analysis. From there, we have an excellent understanding of your energy profile and can help implement corrective action to achieve lower usage and expenses.
We can develop energy management plans & strategies covering operations and capital improvements. We can quantify conservation measures to help you understand their impact. Flow can assist in your energy procurement process to achieve best rates and favorable contract terms. We can develop tools and processes for your own “in house” energy management efforts. We can show you how to add value to your tenant utility billing processes or even automate those processes to be done internally instead of being outsourced. Flow also advises on the best ways of implementing ENERGY STAR products, automating the participation process in the EPA’s Portfolio Manager, and will help you achieve LEED Certification.
Flow also helps clients control solid waste expenses through contract negotiations and will provide recommendations encompassing right sizing property service, recycling programs, relocation of equipment to better distribute trash loads, and the assessment of trash compactors.
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