The Pi Beta Phi sorority house was inadvertently overcharged for its energy bill by the Hillsdale Board of Public Utilities for more than a dozen years, but it was not until this past summer that the mistake was caught. To make amends, BPU sent a $110,000 check to the Pi Phi house in July as reimbursement.
This problem was recently discovered by Tim Wells, the college’s energy education specialist. After documenting the energy consumption of the campus residences, Wells noticed that Pi Phi’s consumption was significantly higher than that of the other Greek houses. In some comparisons it was being charged for using more than twice as many kilowatt hours as houses of similar size.
“That’s what raised an initial red flag,” Wells said.
Wells, with assistance from the college maintenance department, found that the energy multipliers for Pi Phi’s service were set at 120 instead of 60, which its electrical panel indicated, meaning that Pi Phi was being charged for twice as much electricity as it was actually using.
Wells, in conjunction with the business office, went back through Pi Phi’s bills and discovered that this error had gone unnoticed since the late 90s. Using spreadsheets, Wells came up with the $110,000 charge that BPU would be asked to reimburse due to the error.
Despite initial problems regarding BPU’s two-year maximum reimbursement clause, Wells, with the help of the college administration, requested a variance of cause and was able to receive full reimbursement.
“BPU was nothing but professional, honest, and forthcoming,” Wells said. “We are appreciative of their willingness to consider the special circumstances surrounding this situation.”
Hillsdale BPU’s Chief Financial Manager Annette Kinney confirmed Wells’ findings. She also said that BPU’s board was able to work together with College Vice President of Administration Rich Péwé to come to an eventual solution and repay the full amount.
Hillsdale’s energy management program was started in June of 2011 to manage the college’s over 150 electrical, gas, irrigation, and water/sewer accounts in an attempt to find ways to save energy on campus and off-campus during unoccupied times.
“We’re here to help the dorms and residences and are appreciative of any voluntary measures taken to help save through being good stewards of our resources,” Wells said.
The program has not only helped in conserving energy but has helped remedy an almost 13-year mistake by providing quite a hefty sum to the Pi Phi sorority sisters.
“The money goes back to Pi Phi accounts, which they can use for future expenses,” Wells said.
Pi Phi president Margaret Martin refused to comment on the incident.
