Billing > Utility Billing > Parameters > Rate Table

Recent Changes: 
6.93 
- Put the demand transaction code outside of the groupings and allow it to be used for the "Use tabled" demand as well as the "Use no tiers" demand
6.80 
 - Removed check boxes on the Usage/Demand tab and replaced them with radio buttons. A new option for "No demand" has also been added and will act as the default for new records or for existing records that did not have any demand options checked.
 - Slight design change - Each section for demand (tier, no tier, tabled) has a border now to help with grouping the fields together.
 - All fields for demand groups that aren't selected will be cleared out and reset when switching between groups using the radio buttons. The only exception is the rate table under "Use tabled".
 - Fixed bug where front end would occasionally show a blank value for "Demand transaction code" even though the database field has a value.

6.66 - Added a checkbox to the Power Cost Adjustment fields on the transactions tab  to indicate if they want it combined to the main charge on the bill.  
6.65 - Added a new demand calculation based on a new configurable rate table. Additionally, with this new calculation, users may pick between two different methods for determining the demand usage - Actual Demand or Last Number of Months
6.64 - Added auto-calculate functionality to rate table   
6.58 - Added new option to mark adjustment transaction as taxable
6.36 - Added functionality for minimum demand options relating to amount, usage, no usage, and multiply usage by units 
5.28 - Issue where adjustment code was getting charged more than one time when a meter change out was performed was corrected.

Introduction

The rate table parameter is a configuration table for charges that are variable in nature. Rate tables are used to determine a charge for a specific reading and are broken down based off of the limit, unit, rate amount and base rate.

Explanation

Rate Table Calculations

"General" tab fields

Name (required) - Rate table name
Description (required) - Rate table description
Abbreviation (required) - Rate table abbreviation
Master code (required) - 1 of 2 codes referenced when determining the appropriate rate table for a metered service. The master code relates to a location's master code on a customer location.
Service code (required) - 1 of 2 codes referenced when determining the appropriate rate table for a metered service. The service code relates to a meter service on a meter.

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The combination of the master code and service code will determine the rate to be used for a meter reading. The step levels will determine how the charge will be calculated and require the following fields

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Transaction code - The transaction code attached to any transaction generated by service charge calculation using the selected rate table.
Rate type - Combo box of types; does not impact calculation or reporting. Options include: Demand, Kw Demand, Table, Automatic, Hand, Commercial Demand, Industrial Demand, Seasonal Demand
Minimum fee - Minimum service charge applied, regardless of charge calculated from usage
Maximum fee - Maximum service charge applied, regardless of charge calculated from usage

Rates grid - Contains the rate table's rates, ordered by the Limit column. Rates are used to determine service charge for a metered service. Additional calculation information can be found on the Calculate Report page.

Each rate requires at least one step level to calculate the charge.

Limit
Unit
Rate Amount
Base Amount

Auto-Calculate Functionality for Rates Grid
If the first rate entered is updated, base amounts will be auto-calculated for all rates when focus leaves the Limit, Unit, Rate and Base Amount text boxes. If subsequent rates are updated, base amounts will only be updated for rates that follow the rate that was changed.
If a user wishes to just enter base amounts without a rate calculation, they may do so by entering in the desired base amounts sequentially.
If a user wishes to add a new rate at the end of the table that has a limit less than their existing maximum limit, they must first save their change before tabbing off one of the fields in the table.

"Usage/Demand"

Lower threshold - Includes a usage amount field to compare against a meter's usage and a rate table field to be used for calculating the service charge. The rates of the current rate table are replaced with those from the rate table field when the meter's usage is lower than the usage amount field.

Upper threshold - Includes a usage amount field to compare against a meter's usage and a rate table field to be used for calculating the service charge. The rates of the current rate table are replaced with those from the rate table field when the meter's usage is greater than the usage amount field.

No Demand - This option is the default for new records or existing records that do not have any demand options selected. When this option is selected, all demand groups (tier, no tier, tabled) will be disabled and all the fields will be cleared out with the exception of the rate table under "Use tabled".

Demand with tiers - When this option is selected, service charge on demand usage will be calculated using a trio of rate table combo box fields and usage amount fields, one pair of fields for each respective tier (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3). The end block fields determine the largest usage value used to calculate a portion of the service charge against its respective rate table's rates

Example: Tier 1 end block determines max demand usage amount to be calculated against the Tier 1 rate table.

For additional calculation information, reference the Calculate Report page. When used, the Base demand field sets a minimum demand usage value regardless of a meter's demand usage.

If this option is selected, "Use no tier" and "Use tabled" groups will be disabled and the fields within those groups will be reset with the exception of the rate table under "Use tabled".

Demand with no tiers - When this option is selected, service charge on demand usage will be calculated by subtracting the value in the Demand threshold field from the meter's demand usage amount, then multiplying that result by the value in the Demand rate field.

Additionally, a minimum usage and minimum usage amount can be set. The minimum usage will deduct from the the demand usage, lowering the usage amount multiplied by the demand rate and the minimum usage amount will be added as part of the total demand charge. There is also a no usage amount that can be set. If the demand usage is zero, the amount set here will be the demand charge amount. Both the minimum usage amount and no usage amount are multiplied by the number of units on a customer location. The minimum usage can also be multiplied by the number of units on a customer location if the check box for multiply minimum usage by units is checked.

The resulting service charge transaction will be written with a transaction code matching the Demand transaction code field. If the field contains a value different from the rate table's transaction code, it will generate its own transaction. Otherwise, the demand charge value will be added to the total service charge.

If this option is selected, "Use tier" and "Use tabled" groups will be disabled and the fields within those groups will be reset with the exception of the rate table under "Use tabled".

Tabled demand - When this option is selected, users may set up a demand rate table that functions similarly to the regular usage rate table. There are two different methods:

• Actual Demand - Actual demand will use the current demand reading, apply the demand multiplier if applicable, apply the percentage field, then send that amount through the rate table to determine the service charge.
• Last Number of Months - Last number of months will allow users to specify a numeric value to determine how many months the system will look back and grab the highest actual demand from that users bill history. It will then use that demand, apply the demand multiply if applicable, apply the percentage field, then send that amount through the rate table to determine the service charge.

The resulting service charge transaction will be written with a transaction code matching the Demand transaction code field. If the field contains a value different from the rate table's transaction code, it will generate its own transaction. Otherwise, the demand charge value will be added to the total service charge.

Users may also specify a no usage amount which will be the default amount if no demand usage is recorded as well as a minimum usage amount.

If this option is selected, "Use tier" and "Use no tier" groups will be disabled and the fields within those groups will be reset.

"Transactions" tab fields

Transaction code - Cloned field from the General tab field of the same name.

Power cost adjustment - The value of the Charge per usage unit and Charge per demand unit fields are multiplied by a meter's usage and demand usage respectively to determine the power cost adjustment usage charge and the power cost adjustment demand charge amounts. The respective Transaction code fields determine how the calculated power cost adjustment charge will be applied. If the transaction code field is empty, Both "per unit" charges can be taxed, and selecting the Taxable field on either charge line will generate tax transactions on that respective charge. This is not applicable if the respective transaction code field is empty. Both "per unit" charges can be selected to Combine with main charge on bill, and selecting the Combine with main charge on bill field on either charge line will ensure that the charge is added to the main transaction code charge amount on the bill.

Sewer ceiling – Existing implementation limited to printing a message next to a meter service on the Calculate Report indicating that contains a sewer ceiling. No usage calculation adjustment exists. Possible future implementation: during summer months this checkbox could be used to charge metered sewer service based on a standard usage, not the actual usage for the meter on the account. This is due to water being used for sprinklers, pools, and other outdoor uses where water used does not enter sewage pipes. This breaks the standard expectation that each unit of water usage within infrastructure doubles as a unit of sewer usage.

Adjustment - The percent or flat amount of additional service charge added to each meter service that uses the rate table. Value of Adjustment field as a percent or flat amount is determined by the Percent checkbox field. Selecting the Taxable field will generate tax transactions on the adjustment charge.

Adjustment transaction code - Transaction code used for adjustment transaction. Adjustment transaction cannot be created if transaction code has not been selected.

Taxes grid - Contains the rate table's tax rates. Each tax rate includes a tax rate percent value and a transaction code. The calculated service charge is multiplied by the percent value to determine the tax transaction value. That value references the transaction code of that rate. A tax transaction is generated for each tax rate per service charge.

Troubleshooting

Billing Wizard Troubleshooting
Utility Billing Account Troubleshooting

Reference

Utility Billing
Demand Meter Calculations