As mentioned in a previous post, I’m a big Carolina Hurricanes fan. What Tripp Tracy would call a “Huge Caniac”! Before I explain how a hockey team relates to your utility business office, please indulge me in asking a favor… […]
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Utility Billing
I recently completed a business review for a utility that tracks several payment trends. One of these is shown in the graph below (clicking on the graph will open a larger image in a new window). Do you track this […]
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Are you using IPAWS alerts? Do you even know what an IPAWS alert is? (Hint, it’s not an Apple product for dogs!) If you’re like me, you are likely familiar with them, but never knew what they are called. Boil […]
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Are you charging all the fees you could be…? How does your fee schedule compare with other utilities…? If you’ve ever wondered about these questions, here’s your opportunity to find out! You’re invited to participate in the 2025 Utility Fee […]
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Many utilities (rightfully so) maintain separate bank accounts for operating funds and security deposits. When you apply a customer’s security deposit and they are due a refund, are you writing two checks from your security deposit bank account? One to […]
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As we approach the New Year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your support over the course of the past year and wish you a very Happy New Year for 2025! During 2025, I will celebrate […]
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Recently, a colleague posted on LinkedIn about why it’s wrong to set rates by comparing what neighboring utilities charge. The blog post he wrote and referenced goes into great detail about why this isn’t a good idea. I’ve experienced similar […]
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How often do you update your general ledger from your utility billing system? How often do you reconcile the accounts receivable from your general ledger with your billing system? Many utilities only update the general ledger monthly, some less frequently […]
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I’ve written previously about how bank drafts are the easiest way to collect payments. They are also generally less expensive to process than credit card payments. As a result, many utilities offer incentives to get customers to sign up for […]
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Today’s blog post draws from my popular Improving Revenue Collections for Utilities presentation. Let’s examine some best practices when taking an application for service. Require a copy of rental agreement or closing documents Requiring applicants for service to provide a […]
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