You know it’s time to shed some light on a utility vendor’s invoices when what they’re charging isn’t current.

When Dominant Systems, a computer networking company located in Ann Arbor, MI, was plagued by constant power outages, it decided to move the bulk of its equipment to a different facility. The resulting drop in energy-usage raised a few red flags at Dominant’s utility vendor, DTE Energy.

After seeing the amount of energy used drop by more than two-thirds, DET’s fraud department ruled the meter at Dominant must have been faulty, so the electricity-provider back-billed the company for $7,193.

The company’s paybles department was in the middle of disputing that charge when another bill showed up for $136,524.40. Dominant refused to pay the invoice, and the company received a demand for $36,275, accompanied by a shut-off notice (unless the bill was paid).

Although the argument between the companies is in full swing, a DTE spokesman said the utility would further review Dominant’s claims before shutting off the power.

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Tags: Dominant Systems, DTE Energy, Power outage, Utility bill, Vendor disputes