How ROS Secured Over $20,000 in Utility Tax Refunds for a Client

At Rate Optimization Services (ROS), some of our biggest wins come from digging into the details most people don’t have the time, or expertise, to untangle. One recent success at a multi-family property managed by Cushman & Wakefield, is a perfect example of how targeted utility analysis can translate directly into meaningful cost recovery.

The Opportunity: Hidden Errors in Utility Taxation

Like many multi-family properties, this one receives utility bills from multiple providers, each governed by its own set of state and local tax rules. Over time, incorrect tax applications can quietly add up, often without anyone realizing refunds are even possible.

Our ROS team conducted a detailed review of this property’s utility accounts and identified two separate opportunities for tax exemptions that had not been properly implemented:

• Natural Gas Account with CenterPoint Energy
• Water Account with the City of Minneapolis

The Work Behind the Win

Securing refunds like these isn’t as simple as asking for a credit. It requires a deep understanding of tax law, utility billing structures, and local refund processes. For this property, our work included:

• Reviewing historical utility bills to identify erroneous tax charges
• Researching applicable state and municipal tax exemption rules
• Preparing and submitting exemption documentation and refund requests
• Coordinating directly with utility providers and local authorities
• Tracking refunds through approval and payment

Each utility required a different approach, different documentation, and separate follow-ups—work that can be time-consuming and complex without a dedicated team managing the process end-to-end.

The Results: Real Dollars Back to the Client

Thanks to this effort, ROS successfully secured over $20,000 in total refunds for the property:

• $13,482.26 refunded for erroneous tax charges on the natural gas account
• $7,099.18 refunded for erroneous tax charges on the water account

Beyond the immediate financial impact, the correct exemptions are now in place moving forward, which helps prevent these errors from recurring on future bills.

The client was thrilled with the outcome and the transparency of the process, especially knowing these savings were uncovered without disrupting day-to-day operations.

Why This Matters for Other Properties

This success story isn’t unique to this property. Many multi-family properties are overpaying on utility taxes simply because exemptions haven’t been properly applied, or because no one has taken the time to look closely.

ROS specializes in uncovering these opportunities. Whether it’s gas, electric, or water, our team helps clients:

• Identify potential tax exemptions
• Recover refunds for past overpayments
• Ensure accurate billing going forward

If your property hasn’t undergone a recent utility tax review, there may be refunds waiting to be recovered.