Bill Forecast

The Bill Forecast module informs customers how much their bill is projected to be by the end of the billing period. Dual fuel customers see a combined bill forecast for both electric and gas use. The purpose of the forecast is to encourage customers to lower their usage before the bill period ends.

Note: The Bill Forecast module is not included in Cost Tracker Report emails, as this forecast is accomplished through the Cost Tracker module.

Example

The image below is an example of the Bill Forecast module for dual fuel customers.

Configuration Options

For each element listed in the table, indicate the desired configuration in the Input Value column. If you do not provide an input for optional configurations, the default will be used.

Configuration Option	Input Value
Hide Bill Projection Displays the customer's estimated cost or usage for the end of the bill period. Default: Show the bill projection.	Optional Choose one of the following: Use the default Hide the bill projection
Hide Bill-to-Date Displays the customer's current usage or cost for the billing cycle so far. Default: Show the bill-to-date.	Optional Choose one of the following: Use the default Hide the bill-to-date
Hide Bill Estimate Message Displays a brief message about what the bill estimate is based upon. Default: Show the bill estimate message.	Optional Choose one of the following: Use the default Hide the bill estimate message

Configuration Option

Input Value

Hide Bill Projection

Displays the customer's estimated cost or usage for the end of the bill period.

Default: Show the bill projection.

Optional

Choose one of the following:

Use the default
Hide the bill projection

Hide Bill-to-Date

Displays the customer's current usage or cost for the billing cycle so far.

Default: Show the bill-to-date.

Optional

Choose one of the following:

Use the default
Hide the bill-to-date

Hide Bill Estimate Message

Displays a brief message about what the bill estimate is based upon.

Default: Show the bill estimate message.

Optional

Choose one of the following:

Use the default
Hide the bill estimate message

User Experience Variations

This section describes the user experience variations in the Bill Forecast module.

Personal Threshold Not Set

When the utility has a default utility-wide threshold, but the customer has not yet set up their own personal threshold, the bill forecast message changes to include a prominent button with the text "CHANGE YOUR THRESHOLD" to prompt users to set their own personal threshold.

Personal Threshold Not Available

If the utility does not implement the personal threshold, all language regarding the customer's personal threshold, and all links or buttons directing customers to set or change the threshold are removed from the message.

Usage

The message can provide a usage forecast rather than a forecasted amount. The usage forecast is shown as a percentage. For example, "Your energy use is projected to be 10% higher this billing period".

Projected Range

Utilities can display a forecast cost range rather than a specific cost value for the projected bill. If you choose to display a range, you do so by specify the range percentage. By default, the range is set to 0 (zero), and therefore, a range is not displayed. If you set the range to 15%, for example, and a customer's projected bill is $100, the range would display as $100-$115.

Display Billing Period Date Range

You can set the Bill Forecast module to display the bill period date range associated with the forecast. The date range appears at the top of the module when set to display. By default, the date range is not displayed.