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Tales From Facility Operations - The Utility in Seeing the Full Picture
Facilities management isn’t just about fixing what’s broken—it’s about anticipating needs, optimizing resources, and uncovering hidden inefficiencies before they become costly surprises.
One experience from a former workplace stands out as a perfect example of why tracking data is key to making informed decisions.
The Mystery of the Skyrocketing Electric Bill
We had recently developed a new trend analysis report for tracking utility costs. The goal was simple: identify usage patterns, catch inefficiencies, and ensure buildings were running as efficiently as possible.
As we ran the first report, one building immediately stood out. Its electric bill had tripled compared to the previous year. It didn’t take long to realize that something was off—there hadn’t been major renovations, no new equipment, no seasonal changes significant enough to justify the increase.
That kicked off a two-week-long investigation, sending our team down a rabbit hole of usage logs, equipment assessments, and discussions with maintenance crews.
Then, the answer surfaced.
A Revenue Stream with an Unnoticed Cost
Turns out, over the past year, the building’s roof had been commissioned by a local telecommunications company to install a new cell phone tower. A great move! It provided a valuable service to the community and generated revenue for the facility — a win-win situation.
Except for one oversight:
The electric costs of the tower had never been passed through to the telecom company.
So while the building was making money on the lease, it was quietly hemorrhaging funds on utility costs that weren’t accounted for.
Lessons Learned: What’s Not Tracked Can’t Be Managed
The experience was a perfect reminder of two key truths in facilities management:
- You can't measure what isn't tracked – Without our new trend analysis report, this oversight may have gone unnoticed for years, quietly draining resources without anyone realizing it.
- It’s hard to investigate what isn’t being reported – If utility bills aren't analyzed regularly, anomalies can slip through the cracks, and decision-makers are left reacting instead of proactively managing their buildings.
Facilities management isn’t just about fixing problems—it’s about identifying them before they happen. Whether it’s a leaky pipe, an underutilized space, or a forgotten telecom charge, tracking where your money is going ensures resources are optimized and surprises are minimized.
Because in this industry, what we don’t see can cost us just as much as what we do.
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