PROVEN UTILITY SAVINGS AND REFUNDS FOR MICHIGAN BUSINESSES SINCE 1984
Many business owners underestimate the real cost of not optimizing their utility expenses on an ongoing basis. For nearly 4 decades, our experience has shown that 3 out of 4 businesses are unknowingly overpaying for their natural gas and electricity costs. In Michigan, the regulatory landscape for billing options remains ever-changing. The Michigan Public Service Commission continuously introduces new tariffs and rates that offer businesses the potential to save thousands of dollars in energy costs. However, it’s important to note that these billing options require a business owner to be proactive as they are never automatically applied. A business owners’ cost of inactivity in such a dynamic regulatory environment can lead to unnecessary high costs. A periodic reassessment by an expert is essential to adapt. Safeguard your company’s profits by proactively addressing the potential costs of inactivity. Choose ECORE as your dedicated partner for maximizing utility savings and refunds.
Our service generally results in 5% – 20% annual savings.
WHO WE ARE
ECORE is a utility savings and refund company based in Farmington Hills, MI. We specialize in commercial utility bill analysis, bill optimization, and four-year retroactive refunds. We help companies improve their cash flow by reducing their electricity and natural gas costs. Our goal is to save our clients as much money as possible, as quickly as possible, with no up-front costs. For over thirty years, Ecore has been trusted by thousands of companies throughout Michigan and the Midwest, helping to reduce utility expenses. We have long-standing relationships with all of the Michigan utilities and specialized knowledge of utility rules, regulations, and tariffs to reduce rates and recover refunds that deliver impactful results. With decades of experience working with utility companies, our team’s insights uniquely position us to advocate for our clients. Our clients realize significant savings the first year, but more importantly, continue to save year after year.
A PROCESS TAILORED AROUND YOU
1. Information
To start the process, we will need the recent billing statements for all accounts to be audited, completion of a services agreement and a company questionnaire. Ecore only needs one bill for each account. Our team will work with the utility provider to obtain a thorough bill history.
2. Analysis
Ecore’s energy analysts review all bills received and advise of any billing errors, incorrect applications, usage anomalies, duplicate billings or cost recovery opportunities. The statute of limitations enables us to petition for up to a 4-year recalculation of prior billings.
3. Benchmarking
Our team then compares the current pricing structure against our market intelligence and criteria such as company size, peak usage, industry, and other pertinent parameters.
We use custom built algorithms to company billing data with industry, company, and site-specific benchmarks.
4. Implementation
Lastly, after the potential savings are identified after the analysis, all of the necessary paperwork will be processed by Ecore in order to reclaim overcharges and adjust billing rates going forward. If you receive a refund, the funds will be applied to your account as a credit, and in some cases, you have the option to receive a check.
WHAT WE DO FOR YOU
There is absolutely no upfront cost or risk to our clients and it requires a minimal time commitment.
WHY DO YOU NEED US?
Overbilling is very common. Many accounts are set up on automatic payment without any serious bill review. Is this happening to your company?
We will uncover past billing errors and get your money back if you’ve been overcharged. You may be eligible for refunds, tax credits and lower rates going forward. With the right knowledge and support, you can achieve significant cost savings, both retroactively and proactively
We will make sure you are on the best rate and taking advantage of all available discounts and exemptions. If your company is not already taking advantage of a utility audit, rest assured your competitors are, and the refunds they are receiving are giving them a competitive advantage over you.
Our service generally results in 5% to 20% annual savings.
We work on a contingency fee basis, there are no out-of-pocket costs for you. Our compensation is based on a percentage of the refund or savings that you obtain. If no refund or savings is received, then you pay nothing. This makes our service a true “win-win” proposition.
Maximize your company’s savings year after year and keep more money in your budget for other line items.
Finding billing errors is not something you should leave up to your accounting department. It requires a great deal of time, knowledge, expertise and resourcefulness to determine when and if any overcharges have occurred and to how much of a refund your business is entitled.
Make sure this is not happening to your company, and if it is, stop needlessly overpaying. It is as simple as your participation and sending us a recent bill.
CLIENT RESULTS
For decades, we have witnessed a significant number of business owners who mistakenly assume that utilities automatically offer the lowest and most suitable rates. Did you know that when enrolling with a utility company, the automated system typically places you on a default rate plan? This standardized approach has proven to be quite costly for many business owners. Indeed, a one-size-fits-all rate plan rarely aligns perfectly with every business. It is essential to recognize that the primary responsibility of utility companies is to establish and uphold robust infrastructure systems that support the electric grid and natural gas network. Utility companies in Michigan are not obligated to automatically provide you with the lowest possible rates. Their role does not inherently involve a fiduciary duty to customize rates according to your distinct usage profile. With our expertise, we can equip your business with insights and strategies, all to your benefit, to ensure you are not overpaying. This is precisely why we have consistently achieved savings for the majority of our clients, and we can do the same for you.
Check out some case summaries below showcasing the results we have produced for our clients.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Rob Stasiak
Rob Stasiak is a strategic cost advisor who helps businesses reduce expenses, improve profitability, and increase enterprise value. As the Founder and Managing Director of ECORE, he leads a team of technical and sales specialists focused on helping small and mid-market companies lower utility costs, recover missed savings and refunds, and better control utility spending.
With over 15 years of experience in commercial utility billing, Rob has reviewed hundreds of electric and gas accounts and continues to find that three out of five utility bills contain overcharges, misclassifications, or overlooked savings opportunities. He routinely sees companies experiencing margin erosion due to billing errors and improper rate classifications. With a long-standing focus on Michigan markets, ECORE’s team delivers consistent, compounding savings, often recovering hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for business owners in manufacturing, industrial services, commercial real estate, municipalities, and hospitality.
Rob also brings an M&A-informed perspective. As a Certified Mergers & Acquisition Professional (CM&AP) and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), he understands how utility cost inefficiencies and contract terms impact margins, cash flow, and valuation. His team can identify and recover critical lost funds that can enhance broader business objectives such as growth, succession, and transition planning.
A graduate of the University of Michigan, Rob is known for delivering measurable value to business owners through optimized spending and unrecognized cost efficiencies. His authentic, results-driven approach has translated into millions of dollars in recovered costs, helping business owners strengthen their bottom line and contribute to long-term value.
Brian Somerville
Brian Somerville brings over 30 years of elite expertise in utility cost recovery and billing optimization. As a respected utility analyst, he transforms opaque utility data into actionable savings, helping businesses reclaim over $25 million through strategic audits and corrections. Brian contributed to expert testimony at Michigan utility rate hearings as part of a CPA firm serving the Michigan Attorney General’s office and industrial advocate group ABATE. His mastery of tariffs, regulatory shifts, and complex billing structures empowers business owners to navigate energy costs with clarity and confidence. A graduate of Wayne State University with a B.S. in Accounting and Business Management, Brian is trusted for his precision, advocacy, and results-driven approach.
Gary Hollidge
With over 35 years of experience in sales management and business operations, Gary has an exceptional grasp of how ECORE can effectively optimize your energy costs. His expertise in the manufacturing industry and CPA business development offers a unique perspective across diverse business sectors, including automotive, construction, and many industrial/business services. Gary’s work with both small and large private companies has provided him with special insights within these industries. His keen ability to identify companies with a high potential for cost savings is a valuable asset to business owners seeking to reduce utility costs and maximize overlooked savings opportunities. Gary is a graduate of Albion College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Economics and post-graduate Engineering Studies at Lawrence Technological University.
Steve Wilcox, MBA
With a diverse background in finance, accounting, and entrepreneurship, Steve brings a strategic and results-driven mindset. His career spans key financial roles at a major automobile manufacturer and a mechanical contracting firm, where he gained firsthand experience in operational finance, cost analysis, and cross-functional leadership within both high-volume and project-based environments. Before stepping into his current role, Steve advised business owners on high-stakes transactions, guided clients through complex deal structures, and successfully owned and operated multiple ventures across commercial finance and real estate investment. This blend of corporate and entrepreneurial experience gives him a deep understanding of the financial pressures faced by business leaders, and the critical importance of identifying overlooked cost efficiencies. Steve leads strategic initiatives focused on helping commercial and industrial clients reduce operational expenses by securing refunds and achieving long-term savings on gas and electric utilities. His solid foundation in finance, accounting, and deal structuring, paired with a sharp analytical lens and a commitment to client advocacy, positions him as a trusted partner in driving bottom-line impact. Steve holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Finance from Eastern Michigan University and an MBA from Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business.