Getting Started
As utility customers become active participants in the energy grid, generating and storing their own energy, their energy management needs are becoming more complex. The Distributed Energy Resources Customer Engagement Cloud Service provides features that enable utility companies to increase customer education, engagement, and satisfaction.
The Distributed Energy Resources Customer Engagement Cloud Service, in conjunction with the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Cloud Service, includes features that:
- Onboard new solar customers by educating them about their solar bills before they receive them.
- Educate customers about their energy usage and additional steps they can take to save energy as they move through their solar journey.
- Engage customers by showing them the value and financial benefits of their investment, and increase self-service by leading them to solar features and insights on the web.
By educating solar customers and enabling them to easily answer their own questions, utilities can significantly decrease the costs associated with supporting customers using distributed energy resources, while increasing customer engagement and satisfaction.
The following features are available in this service:
- Solar Web Features
- Solar Update Notifications
- Customer Service Interface - Program Management
- Inside Opower
For additional information, see the Oracle Utilities Opower Digital Self Service - Energy Management Cloud Service Overview.
Understanding Solar Billing
Before using this product, it is recommended that you understand the meaning of net metering and net billing. These examples help to explain the difference. These examples have been purposely simplified to illustrate the differences in the two models, and might not reflect the actual billing practices of your utility.
Net Energy Metering (Monthly or Annual)
Bills for net energy metering customers are based on the net amount of energy that is exported and imported, and the customer pays a single rate for the remaining amount. This model can be used for monthly or annual billing, and is referred to as net metering monthly or net metering annual. In this model, the same amount is used to calculate the charges for energy that is imported or exported. For example:
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The customer imports 200 kWh of energy this month.
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The customer exports 150 kWh of energy this month.
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The customer will be charged for 50 kWh as follows, depending on whether they are monthly or annual:
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Net Metering Monthly Customers: Customers will pay off this charge when they receive their monthly bill.
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Net Metering Annual Customers: Customers will receive a bill that includes their standard monthly fee, plus a charge for the 50 kWh. However, they only pay the fee this month. The charge for the 50 kWh is added to an accruing balance. The customer then pays the accrued balance in full when they reach their annual billing date.
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Net Billing (Monthly Only)
Net billing customers are charged for the energy they import and credited for electricity they export at two different rates. The actual energy charge is based on the net of the calculated amounts. This type of billing only happens on a monthly basis. For example:
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The utility pays the customer $1 for every kWh they export. This month, the customer exports 150 kWh of energy, totaling $150.
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The utility charges the customer $2 for every kWh they import. This month the customer imports 200 kWh, totaling $400.
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The customer's net billing amount (excluding fees, taxes, etc.) is $400 - $150 = $250.
Your utility might not have all of the products or features described in this document.