Bill import lets you import multiple utility bills at one time. It's recommended to import your bills into their 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 UtilityManagement's format).

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.