Bill import lets you import data for multiple utility bills at one time. You cannot import bill images with a bill import format or with with the advanced bill import format. 

It's recommended to import each file as its own batch. This lets you delete the batch and bills if you have an error.

Importing bills varies from simple to complex depending on the granularity of information.

How to import bills

Two methods for importing bills:

• Bill Import File Format (imports a bill file from a vendor by mapping columns).
• Bill Import Advanced Format (configure the file specifically to match EnergyCAP's format).

Choosing between the two methods depends on your file. Use the Bill Import File Format when you receive files on a recurring basis that always have the same column layout—you map your columns once, save that mapping as a profile, and reuse it every time. It is flexible in terms of column order and names since you define the mapping yourself.

Use the Advanced File Format when you want a straightforward import without profile setup: your file must conform to a fixed, predefined column structure that EnergyCAP already understands, with columns in a specific required order. Downloading bills from EnergyCAP and re-importing them will also produce a file in the advanced format.

Bill import uses aliases

Bill import uses the account and vendor aliases when importing bills.

For example, if an account in EnergyCAP is entered as 123-45 (matching the format on the paper bill), but your import file lists it as 12345, you can add an alias in EnergyCAP. The alias lets the bill import process match the account and import the bill without errors.

Bill Imports

Bill Imports provides the following features:

• Ability to add a comment to the import.
• Option to download the import file.
• Download an error (kickout) spreadsheet of failed import bills.
• Bill list of all the bills imported in the batch.
• Bill list of the bills flagged during the import.
• Batches filtered by date, import user, or import status.

After you import your bills, the bill is saved, analyzed and then flags are assigned. A new icon appears while a bill is being analyzed. 

Service effective dates for accounts also affect your ability to import bills.

Import and service effective dates

To import a bill, the bill's begin and end dates must fall within the service effective date range of the account.

If the bill dates fall outside this range, the system generates a kickout spreadsheet listing the errors.

Example
If an account's service effective dates are 6/24/19 to 7/25/19, only bill with begin and end dates within that range are imported successfully.

Manual entry and service dates

If you try to manually enter a bill outside of the service dates, a yellow banner is displayed stating your bill is outside the specified date range.

Effective date for linked account meter

Import

During the bill import process the effective date for the linked account meter relationship does not prevent a bill from being imported.

Manual entry

If you attempt to manually enter a bill outside of the effective date for the linked account meter, only account charges can be entered.