Miscalibrated Gas Meters Lead to $200,000 Dispute in Commercial Energy Billing

Case Overview

This case involves a significant commercial operation that relied on a local energy provider for gas and electricity services. The energy provider recently notified the business of substantial miscalibrations in their gas meters, leading to an alleged outstanding balance of over $200,000 in additional energy costs accrued over a period of approximately 20 months. The provider claims that the gas meter was miscalibrated, measuring only 1 cubic foot per pulse instead of the correct 10 cubic feet per pulse, and that there were further miscalculations related to elevation. After recalibrating the meters, the energy company identified additional charges that have raised concerns regarding their accuracy. The commercial operation is now seeking an expert in gas meter calibration and billing to assess these additional charges.

Questions to the Mechanical Engineering expert and their responses

Briefly, describe your experience with the installation, calibration, and billing of commercial gas meters.

I have extensive experience installing and maintaining gas meters and gas control energy. I worked at a major energy company where I did this type of work and focused on meters from ultrasonic to orifice plate, coriolis, turbine, rotary, and annubar meters. Besides installation and maintenance, I was also involved in recording and calibrating the instruments that make up those meters.

Are you familiar with the ABB TotalFlow gas metering device?

I am very familiar with different types of TotalFlow gas metering devices including ABB, which is a common one.

About the expert

This expert has over 20 years of experience in mechanical engineering, with a focus on commercial gas metering. They earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering and are a licensed professional engineer. Their career began as a gas measurement and controls engineer at a major energy company. Over the years, they have held multiple leadership roles, including senior mechanical engineer at an engineering consultancy, senior project engineering manager at an oil field services firm, and site superintendent and project controls coordinator at a natural gas processing company. Most recently, they contributed to a vapor and fluid inventory study, conducting a comprehensive analysis of vessels, piping, and equipment capacities across three processing facilities with a combined capacity exceeding 100 million cubic feet.

E-1009715

Specialties:

Mechanical Engineering

Celia Guo is the Vice President of Multidisciplinary Research at Expert Institute. With a background rooted in public policy and criminal justice, Celia brings a wealth of experience in data-driven legal analysis. Prior to joining The Expert Institute, she conducted research for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, focusing on drug diversion cases, and collaborated with the American Civil Liberties Union to analyze officer-involved shootings in Fresno, California. Her policy advocacy work also includes lobbying with the Drug Policy Alliance for the RISE Act, aimed at reforming sentencing enhancements for minor drug offenses.

Celia holds a B.A. in Political Science from Loyola Marymount University and an M.P.P. from the University of Southern California. She combines her policy expertise with a passion for justice to lead a dynamic research team that supports litigation strategy across a wide range of practice areas.