Utility Billing Module

Usage Periods Overview

 

Summary

 

The Time of Use feature is typically used to charge UB customers different rates for peak and non-peak usage. Consumption is generally separated into the usage periods by the meter and then imported into the Springbrook application as separate consumption values when meter reads are imported (UB> Meter Management> Readings Import). When a billing is generated (UB> New Billing), charges are applied to the imported consumption based on the unique rate structure of each usage period set up on the service rate.

 

Step by Step

 

1     Set up the Utility Billing module. 

 

  • Open the UB Setup window (UB> Utilities> Utility Billing Setup> Device tab).
  • Enter the number of use periods you would like to create in the Use Periods field. The number of use periods is the number of unique service rate structures you would like to create. For example, enter 2 if you would like to create a peak and non-peak usage period. This will create two separate usage periods: one rate structure for peak usage and one rate structure for non-peak usage.
    • You can create a maximum of six use periods, which will allow you to create six separate rate structures on a single service rate.
  • Press ENTER or click the Save button to save the changes.

 

2     Set up the service rates. 

 

  • Adding multiple usage periods to the UB module setup window will add the usage periods to the Consumption Levels tab of the Service Rate Maintenance window. This allows you to set up a separate rate structure for each usage period.
  • Open the Service Rate Maintenance window (UB> Maintenance> Service Rate> Select a service rate revision).
  • Open the Consumption Levels tab. Each usage period will display as a separate line item in the window.
  • Click the Expand button next to a usage period to create a rate structure for that period.
    • If a usage period does not display on the Consumption Levels tab, you have not created the usage period in the UB module setup (UB> Utilities> Setup> Device tab> Use Periods field).
    • Enter the rate structure for the usage period, creating a new line item below the usage period for each level break on the service rate. The rate structure will only be applied to consumption that is assigned to that usage period. If no consumption is read for that consumption period during a billing, the service rate structure set up on that usage period will not be applied to the billing.
  • Click the Save button when complete.
  • Repeat this process for each service rate that will be used to bill multiple usage periods.

 

3     Set up the device types. 

 

  • The number of use periods must be set up on the device type so that meter readings on that device can be separated into the usage periods.
  • Open the device maintenance window (UB> Maintenance> Device Maintenance).
  • Open the meter tab on the device maintenance window. The title of the meter tab will vary depending on the device type. For example, if you have opened a water meter device type, the title of the tab will be Water.
  • Enter the number of use periods in the Number of Use Periods field.
  • Press ENTER or click the Save button to save the changes.
  • Repeat this process for each device type that will be used to read multiple usage periods.

 

4     Enter a meter read using the use periods. 

 

  • If you have meters that automatically separate consumption into the separate use periods, the usage periods will be applied when the meter reads are imported (UB> Meter Management> Readings Import).
    • The meter import is generally customized to handle usage periods.

 

5     Create a billing. 

 

  • If your billing statements are not set up to display the consumption on usage periods, the consumption on the statements may not display correctly.