(Best) Accurate Utility Billing Software For Effortless Management

Efficient billing management requires the collection of usage data and accurate calculations. There are millions of data to collect and calculate. Indeed, the whole process is not done manually. Utility billing software automates the function for the respected authority.

This article is all about accurate utility billing software for effortless management. We will look into the description, features, and benefits of utility billing software. And in the end, the article will guide you to some of the best utility billing software available in the market.

What Is Utility Billing Software?

Utility billing software is a valuable tool for utility service providers. The software tracks the use of different utilities like gas, water, electricity, and others. It then collects the data and calculates a total bill from the usage.

Different software has different features to manage the utility billing system. This can include invoice management, meter management, payment processing, and many more. You can find utility billing software in the cloud or manage it in your own system.

Common Features of Utility Billing Software

Different service providers offer different features in the utility billing software. There is a range of features you can avail and make use of.

Here are some most common features almost every utility billing software has.

Meter management

The Meter management feature comes with different charts, graphs, and tables. With this feature, you can view the total utility usage of customers. The meter management feature is also capable of printing bills for the system.

Metered billing

You can use the meter management system to upload the readings to the metered billing system. The metered billing feature enables you to charge customers for their utility usage directly. Besides, any utility service provider can use and manage the metered billing system.

Nonmetered billing

Nonmetered billings are one-time charges against utility usage. They are usually higher than the metered billing rates. It can also include flat rates for utility usage.

Rate management

Different areas of the country might have different utility bill rates. Would you want to set the rate and do the manual calculations manually? Certainly not!

Here comes the rate management system to help you out with the multiple pricing system. You can create separate price rates for different areas and daytime.

Online payment processing

Digital payment has made life easier for everyone. Utility billing software comes with this feature too. You can use the feature to send receipts, billing information, payment procedure, etc. The system maintains all the transaction records too.

Account management

The account management feature includes storing relevant information about customers. With this feature, vendors can keep track of customer names, addresses, phone numbers, and other relevant information. You can also customize the page according to your needs.

Customer management

The customer management feature is a great system to create a customer database. You can include customer information, billing and transaction history, statistics, and other offerings. This enables service providers to manage customers better and with more care. The client-customer relationship is also enhanced through this feature.

Move-in and move out

As the name suggests, this feature keeps track of customers who stay and leave with the service provider. With this feature, service providers can record dates, times, and move-in and move-out locations. As a result, proper billing can be ensured through this feature.

Penalty or cut-off processing

This feature is handy for customers who do not pay within the due date. If a customer is late in making payment, this system handles penalties and extra charges.

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What Type of Buyer Are You?

So, utility billing software has a lot of features to make use of. Before you start ordering a system, you need to know your preferences. You will also need to know the buyer category you fall under. This will help you find the best software for your business.

There are a total of 3 buyer categories, and you will definitely fall under one of them.

Small utility service provider

A small utility service provider has very few customers in a small area. The number of customers could be no more than 50. If you fall under this, you will need a simple system that manages your services. You might not need anything more than a tracking and billing system. So, utility billing software with basic features is best suited for you.

Medium utility service provider

As the name suggests, this is a much bigger service provider than small utility service providers. Medium utility service providers have growing businesses. Their customer tally can reach up to 250 customers in a single area.

As a result, you will need more than basic features in the utility billing system. Extra features like customer management, online payment processing, and move-in/move-out would come in really handy.

Large utility service provider

Large utility service providers have more than 250 customers across different areas. Thus, the system must be able to perform high-quality and efficient functions. You should look for utility billing software that includes both primary and special features.

Benefits of Utility Billing Software

By now, you must have some idea about the advantages of utility billing software. It makes the lives easy for utility service providers.

But still, here are some excellent benefits you can get from utility billing software.

Identifying usage pattern of the customers

One of the most prominent benefits of this system is identifying usage patterns. The software comes with graphs and charts to show customer usage history.

As a result, you can cater offers and discounts to heavy usage customers and build a better relationship. Those customers will be delighted with your services and will stay with you longer. You can also create strategies to grow your business in heavy usage locations.

Managing multiple clients together

An excellent thing about automated systems is client management. You definitely want your business to reach maximum customers.

Hence, there will be a high number of clients on your list. And it is next to impossible managing them manually. The software helps you to manage billings according to every customer’s preference.

Data security

When you are working with numbers and bills, there will be a vast amount of data. You will need to store customer information in your database as well. Thus, they need to stay in a secure place.

A cloud-based billing system provides you with all the security you need. The system comes with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance. And there is also encryption to ensure privacy. Safe and secure transactions will attract more customers to your business.

Market Trends to Understand

Investing in a utility billing system is a smart choice. But there are a few things to still consider before diving in. Here are 2 market trends that you need to be aware of.

Widespread of SaaS

SaaS means Software-as-a-Service. It also means subscription-based software systems. We live in a world where services like this have become very popular. There are many such systems available in the market today. And they come with some of the best features at minimal costs.

High increase in demand

With the high options available in the market, the demand for utility billing software is increasing. Thus, many service providers are coming up with specifically tailored systems.

As a buyer, you can look for systems that meet your special needs. This will enhance the efficiency and operational regulations of your company significantly.

Key Considerations

Before you start investing in these systems, there are a few factors to consider. Here are 3 things you need to check and keep in mind beforehand.

Deployment options

You can get utility billing software in cloud-based and on-premises systems. The costs of both types vary largely. Cloud-based systems have a much lower expense than on-premises systems.

Payment compliance

The main function of utility billing software is online payment options. So you will need to check whether the system complies with your industry standards.

Integration requirements

Many utility billing systems can be integrated with other systems. They involve MS Excel, PayPal, QuickBooks, etc. Your job is to check whether the system you are interested in has the option or not.

Best and Top Utility Billing Software

As mentioned already, there are many options available for utility billing software. They come with different features and specifications. Their functions vary as well.

We have listed the 10 best utility billing software that you can consider buying.

PrismERP

The first utility billing software on our list is PrismERP. The software provides independent platforms to the users with excellent integration capabilities. It supports almost any business across different industries.

The cloud-based system of PrismERP allows users to track and store customer information. You can manage utility usage and cater to business strategies accordingly.

There are several modules that you can make use of as well. Its utility billing system includes 4 types of billing features:

• Metered billing
• Nonmetered billing
• Bulk billing
• Real-time bill collection

Cogsdale software

Cogsdale offers both on-premises and cloud-based utility billing solutions. The system works with utilities like gas, water, electricity, and sewer. And businesses can combine different utilities together to run in the system as well.

One of the best features of Cogsdale is real-time data. Businesses can view customer reviews and problems. And then, they can solve the queries instantly. Other features include budget billing, certified testers, backflow testing, and many more.

You can also integrate with Jira and other support systems.

Skybill

Skybill is a popular utility billing software to manage customer information. It provides you with a system to store property and service locations. You can also set different tariff plans with the software.

The software has an excellent automated system for the complete billing process. It first receives usage information from the meter. After that, the system sends billing information to the customer. And finally, customers can pay directly through online payment systems.

You can integrate the software with Microsoft Dynamics NAV ERP. It is a great tool to manage utility billing accounts.

Tridens Monetization

This software is an excellent choice to improve customer relationships. You can launch creative and unique subscription services. This will allow you to be different from other competitors in the market.

You can also use the Quote-Order-Cash economic system for the billing process. This involves quoting, rating, taxing, billing invoices, and generating payments through the system.

Invoiced

This is a cloud-based system that focuses on accounting management. The software is popular among mid-sized and large enterprises.

There are 4 key modules incorporated into the system:

• Invoice-to-Cash
• Recurring billing
• Payment plans
• Customer portals

Invoiced allows companies to generate payments through different payment options. Customers can choose a variety of payment plans and set automatic payments to the system.

On top of everything, you can create discounts, promotional codes, and different pricing schemes with the software.

El Dorado utility billing software

El Dorado is another cloud-based software that focuses on meter management. The features include billing analytics, usage tracking, and meter readings. You can use the historical average of the meter to set up billing projections.

Other software features include online payment options, billing forms, billing portals, and service order management. Industries like water, gas, electricity, and property management firms use this software.

Muni-Link

Muni-Link is a utility billing software designed for municipalities, cities, and boroughs authorities. It can help you manage payments, interest rates, billing notices, and late penalties.

The best feature of the software is the account central. It enables users to manage individual accounts. And you can also store customer information like addresses, usage, billing information, and many more. The software also has customer portals to check balances and make payments.

Snappii

One of the best things you get from Snappii is its mobile application. The apps are widely famous across different industries. And it is working wonders in the utility billing system as well.

You can create apps based on your business through Snappii. The application can make lives easier for the customers. It is a one-stop solution for utility billing services for many companies.

MuniBilling

Many private utility service providers use the MuniBilling utility billing software. The software has features like online payments, meter integration, and a customer portal. Also, customers have access to the system to check their accounts and monthly usage.

The system delivers documentation very efficiently. As a result, customers can send requests and receive better services. Also, companies can track payments and payment plans through the built-in Ratio Utility Billing System (RUBS).

CUBIC

CUBIC is an efficient utility billing software. Municipal sector businesses can use the software to handle day-to-day operations. Further, the system allows effective handling of customer information, billing history, utility usage, cash reports, and many more.

Conclusion

Utility billing software can be a one-stop solution for utility services. You can track, manage, and prepare strategies according to your needs. And an accurate utility billing software for effortless management is all you need to maintain your business.

FAQ

How much does utility billing software cost?

The different service provider charges differently for their system. Most of the utility billing software have subscription-based options.

PrismERP has custom, starter, and pro subscription options. They all have different pricing. Also, any system will likely cost you a few hundred dollars.

Which software can you get for utility invoices?

A few utility billing software come with invoices. One of them is Invoiced on our list. Apart from that, you can get QuickBooks, Xero, Wave, and many more.

What is CIS utility billing?

CIS utility billing is a utility billing system that is windows-based. You can use it for electricity, sewer, gas, and water utility billings.

What is the difference between CIS and CRM?

CIS means Customer Information System. It is a part of Customer Relationship Management (CRM). The system allows utility service providers to store customer information and create a database.