Why CFOs Need Predictability, Not Surprises

For most businesses, utilities are the silent drain on profitability. Rent and payroll are stable, forecastable line items. Energy is not.

According to the California Public Utilities Commission, small businesses often pay higher rates than large enterprises, with utilities consuming up to 10% of total budgets. In industries like restaurants and retail, where margins hover at 3–6%, a single spike in energy costs can erase profitability for the quarter.

Yet too often, CFOs accept energy as “non-controllable.” It doesn’t have to be.

The Challenge of Utility Costs

Utility bills are volatile by design:

  • Seasonal swings (summer cooling, winter heating).

  • Complex tariffs and rate misclassifications.

  • Hidden errors and fees that go unnoticed.

The result? Finance teams struggle to forecast, adjust, and absorb unexpected expenses. For small businesses, this unpredictability threatens sustainability. For large multi-location enterprises, it compounds into millions in wasted spend.

TrueMeter’s Three Levers for CFOs

TrueMeter transforms utilities from a volatile gamble into a managed, predictable expense.

1. Guaranteed Savings, No Investment

Businesses overpay an estimated $75 billion annually on energy. Brokers and bill-pay agents rarely deliver real savings. TrueMeter automatically shops rates across 3,000+ suppliers, locks in the cheapest option, and guarantees 7–15% reductions. If we miss, we pay the difference—no capex required.

2. Auto-Pilot Management

Chasing invoices across dozens of utilities is an administrative burden. TrueMeter consolidates every bill, automates audits, and surfaces errors or inefficiencies in real time. It’s like adding a full-time energy manager across all locations—without the headcount.

3. Cash Flow–Driven Billing

The biggest CFO pain point isn’t just cost—it’s volatility. TrueMeter locks in fixed annual rates and offers custom payment plans, ensuring businesses beat their utility budgets every quarter. Predictable billing means energy becomes as stable to forecast as rent.

Why Predictability Matters

A restaurant paying 3–5% of revenue on utilities with margins of 10–15% can’t afford surprise spikes. A retailer operating on 3–6% margins can’t afford variability in its third-largest expense. Even small improvements—6% annual savings from fixed rates—translate directly into preserved cash flow and reinvestment in growth.

CFOs don’t tolerate unpredictability in rent or payroll. Energy should be no different.

The Bottom Line

Energy doesn’t need to be the budget wild card. With guaranteed savings, auto-pilot management, and fixed-rate billing, TrueMeter makes utilities predictable, controllable, and aligned to the needs of finance leaders.

👉 It’s time to stop reacting to energy bills and start managing them. Learn more at truemeter.com.