Bill Forecast Module
The Bill Forecast module provides a projection of how much the customer could spend on their utility bill if they continue their spending behavior through the end of the billing period. The module can also include personalized threshold information, and can enable customers to access and update their threshold.
If rates are not modeled, the email includes a usage forecast instead of a cost forecast. It is possible for some customers at a utility to see cost information in their forecast, while others see usage information. For example, some customers at a utility may be on budget billing, which typically means they will see a usage forecast. Other customers at the same utility who are not on budget billing will typically see a cost forecast.
Design
This image shows an example of the Bill Forecast module:
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 Options | Input Value |
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Rounding of Bill Forecast By default, the bill forecast rounds to the nearest whole dollar. The message can be configured to show two decimals places in the bill forecast. Default: Round to the nearest whole dollar. |
Optional Choose one of these options:
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Bill Forecast Language The module can be configured to use on track or projected bill language, as follows:
Note that this language choice is also available in the Subject Lines module. The same language should be used for both modules. Default: On track language |
Optional Choose one of these options:
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Budget Billing Language A note regarding how high usage will affect the customer's bills in the future is included. Default: As a budget billing customer, your costs may increase in the future if you use more [fuel/resource type] than usual. |
Optional Choose one of these options:
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Display Bill Period Date Range The billing period date range associated with the forecast can be set to display at the top of the Bill Forecast module. Default: Do not display. |
Optional Choose one of these options:
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Enable Range Specify whether the projected amount is displayed as a range rather than as a specific amount. Default: Display a single amount |
Optional Choose one of these options:
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Turn Off Utility-Wide Threshold Utilities can turn off the utility-wide threshold. Default: Threshold is set to ON. |
Optional Choose one of these options:
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Utility-Wide Default Threshold Value If the utility-wide threshold is turned on, and a customer does not set a personalized threshold, they will only receive reports when their forecast exceeds the default threshold. Default: 30% |
Optional Choose one of these options:
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User Experience Variations
This section discusses 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.
Budget Billing
Budget billing customers receive a usage experience, which means their bill forecast statement uses percentage rather than dollar amounts. Additionally, a statement is added to the message telling the customer that if their usage is high, it could impact their future bills.
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.