Bill or Usage Forecast

The Bill or Usage Forecast shows residential AMI customers their energy use or cost so far in the billing period, projected total energy use or cost for the period, and typical energy use or cost for the period based on their past energy use. The forecast informs customers before the end of the billing cycle if they are likely to have high energy use or cost compared to the same time period the previous year.

Use the images and tables below to review the available Bill or Usage Forecast configuration options.

Bill Forecast Example

The following image shows an example of the Bill Forecast.

Bill forecast displaying an expected energy use or cost based on a customer's current energy use for the billing cycle.

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
Rounding Cost Values to Multiples of Five The Bill Forecast cost value can be rounded to the nearest multiple of five. For example, a forecast of $14 would be rounded to $15. Default: Disable rounding of Bill Forecast cost values.	Optional Choose one of the following: Use the default. Round Bill Forecast values to multiples of five.
Combined Costs View (not depicted) For dual fuel customers, a combined energy costs view combines the energy costs for gas and electricity into a single, total value. Default: Hide the combined costs view	Optional Choose one of the following: Use the default. Display the combined costs view.
Fuel Type Display (not depicted) The fuel types can be displayed as inline tabs for customers to switch between. This behavior is only available for customers with one account per fuel type. A drop-down selector is always displayed for customers with multiple accounts per fuel type. Default: Display a fuel type drop-down selector for all customers.	Optional Choose one of the following: Use the default. Display fuel types as inline tabs for customers with one account per fuel type.
Enable Water and Wastewater If you integrate Bill Forecast with Digital Self Service - Transactions, forecasts are available to customers for water and wastewater service when applicable data requirements have been met. Default: Disable water and wastewater.	Optional Choose one of the following: Use the default Enable water and wastewater (only applicable when integrated with Digital Self Service - Transactions)
Enable Cost Range (not depicted) The cost forecast can be displayed as a range instead of a specific number. A cost range is only available for customers with cost information. Usage ranges are not supported. Default: Display a specific number.	Optional Choose one of the following: Use the default. Enable a cost range. If you choose this option, your Delivery Team will work with you to determine what percentage to use for the range.

Configuration Option

Input Value

Rounding Cost Values to Multiples of Five

The Bill Forecast cost value can be rounded to the nearest multiple of five. For example, a forecast of $14 would be rounded to $15.

Default: Disable rounding of Bill Forecast cost values.

Optional

Choose one of the following:

Use the default.
Round Bill Forecast values to multiples of five.

Combined Costs View (not depicted)

For dual fuel customers, a combined energy costs view combines the energy costs for gas and electricity into a single, total value.

Default: Hide the combined costs view

Optional

Choose one of the following:

Use the default.
Display the combined costs view.

Fuel Type Display (not depicted)

The fuel types can be displayed as inline tabs for customers to switch between. This behavior is only available for customers with one account per fuel type. A drop-down selector is always displayed for customers with multiple accounts per fuel type.

Default: Display a fuel type drop-down selector for all customers.

Optional

Choose one of the following:

Use the default.
Display fuel types as inline tabs for customers with one account per fuel type.

Enable Water and Wastewater

If you integrate Bill Forecast with Digital Self Service - Transactions, forecasts are available to customers for water and wastewater service when applicable data requirements have been met.

Default: Disable water and wastewater.

Optional

Choose one of the following:

Use the default
Enable water and wastewater (only applicable when integrated with Digital Self Service - Transactions)

Enable Cost Range (not depicted)

The cost forecast can be displayed as a range instead of a specific number. A cost range is only available for customers with cost information. Usage ranges are not supported.

Default: Display a specific number.

Optional

Choose one of the following:

Use the default.
Enable a cost range. If you choose this option, your Delivery Team will work with you to determine what percentage to use for the range.

User Experience Variations

The user experience of the feature may vary for customers and utilities depending upon their service types (gas, electricity, dual fuel, and so on), available data, costs, locale, and other factors. For more information, see Bill or Usage Forecast in the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Cloud Services Overview Guide and go to the User Experience Variations section.