Identifier hierarchy
Utilities structure data from customer account down to meter register. Your laundromat lease may list a suite address while the bill shows a service delivery point at the pad-mounted transformer. CLA due diligence asks for years of bills precisely because buyers must confirm the account sold matches the meters serving dryers and washers.
With 40% of CLA survey respondents owning one store and 34% owning two, identifier discipline prevents paying another site's usage after acquisition.
| Field | Typical location | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Account number | Bill header | Payments, customer service |
| Customer name | Bill header | Legal entity match |
| Service address / premise ID | Bill header | Site verification |
| Meter number | Meter detail section | Physical meter match |
| ESID (Texas electric) | Bill or REP portal | Supply switch enrollment |
| Rate schedule code | Bill detail | Tariff verification |
Electric meter specifics
Commercial laundromat meters may record interval demand for kW billing—15-minute on Oncor-style tariffs. The bill shows current read, previous read, multiplier, and read type (actual or estimated). Pepco DC GSLV examples bill demand on 30-minute intervals at or above 25 kW.
If multiplier differs from 1, kWh equals register difference times multiplier—errors here mimic usage spikes.
Gas meter identifiers
Gas bills show meter serial, sometimes module ID for AMR, and corrected therm conversion factors. California IOU dryer benchmarks use therms per load—0.36 for a 30-pound gas dryer—but billed therms still depend on correct meter index tied to the serial on the bill.
Texas gas LDCs operate under Railroad Commission rules; identifiers differ from ERCOT ESID electric format.
Verification checklist
Run at acquisition, after tenant improvements, and before supplier switches.
- Photograph meter face with serial visible; compare to bill.
- Confirm ESID or POD before signing REP contract in Texas.
- Verify rate schedule matches expected commercial class.
- Check for multiple meters on one account—common with split services.
- Ensure landlord master meter is not billing your submeter incorrectly.
- Store identifier map in due diligence folder with 1–3 years PDFs.
