“We’re here for you” is the comforting slogan promoted by Lexington, Fulton County Chapter, NYSARC, Inc., a private, not-for-profit agency serving more than 1,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Lexington is one of the leading agencies of its kind in New York State. With 90 locations dotted along the Hudson and Mohawk River valleys, Lexington can also boast being one of the area’s large employers.
The Challenge
Running so many facilities comes with its share of operating costs, including juggling hundreds of utility bills for electricity, natural gas, water/sewer, waste disposal, telephone and cable needs. All combined, the organization’s annual utility spend adds up to more than $1.5 million.
This is where Cost Control Associates can help. As part of its Cost Recovery and Reduction program, Cost Control Associates analyzed Lexington’s invoices to identify errors and obtain refunds and savings for Lexington.
“Cost Control Associates specializes in digging into utility, waste, telecom and other bills to find opportunities for savings.”
The people at Lexington know utility payments can change over time and that it pays to have a team of industry experts review accounts periodically. Lexington has had Cost Control Associates perform a review every six years since 2003.
The Solution
The 2009 telecom review turned up just over $19,000 in refunds and more than $11,000 in annual cost savings. A 2015 review for energy, telecom and waste removal detected $10,500 in refunds and more than $42,000 in annual cost savings—that’s more than 3.5 percent of Lexington’s utility budget.
“Our relationship with Cost Control Associates goes back many years,” said Ed Gasparovic, chief financial officer, Lexington. “They specialize in digging into utility, waste, telecom and other bills to find opportunities for savings—mostly from rate changes and identifying taxes, fees and other costs that you should not be paying. They are compensated based on a percentage of what they save you, so there are no out-of-pocket costs for us. They provide great customer service, and their utility experts really know their stuff.”
“Lexington was able to save money, and that’s a real boon for an organization that is making every penny count to provide services to those citizens who need it most,” said Keith Laake, president, Cost Control Associates.
“They provide great customer service, and their utility experts really know their stuff.”
Lisa Miller is marketing and communications manager for Cost Control Associates. She joined Cost Control Associates in 2015, bringing more than 25 years of experience in marketing and corporate communications to her position. Lisa earned her BA from Skidmore College. Learn more.