Totaling types
Important
Draft documentation
This content is a draft version of the SkyBill documentation and is subject to final review. Some information may be incomplete or inaccurate. Features, terminology, and procedures may change before the official release.
In the utility billing industry, different utility companies have diverse billing models and requirements. Some companies bill based on direct consumption, while others apply fixed fees or complex formulas. The calculation methods also vary significantly depending on the type of utility you provide. For example, electricity providers often need to measure peak demand and apply time-of-use rates, while water providers typically focus on straightforward consumption and sewage calculations. District heating providers frequently need to allocate bulk consumption and manage heat losses across distribution systems. Furthermore, the billing approach differs depending on the customer type. Commercial properties with individual meters require different methods than multi-apartment buildings, where bulk consumption must be allocated among tenants. To accommodate this variety, SkyBill offers multiple totaling types that allow you to tailor your tariff components to match your specific billing logic.
Each tariff component in SkyBill uses a totaling type to define how quantities are calculated for billing. A totaling type determines what SkyBill measures and how the system interprets meter data, fixed values, or formulas to calculate charges.
Selling any product, including utilities, involves five fundamental elements: Product, Quantity, Unit of Measure, Rate, and Amount. Together, these elements define what you sell (Product), how much you sell (Quantity), the unit of what you sell (Unit of Measure), the price per unit (Rate), and the total amount for each product, calculated by multiplying the quantity and rate.
| Product | Qty | Unit of measure | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity (consumption) | 1,000 | kWh | $0.15/kWh | $150.00 |
| Water (consumption) | 500 | m3 | $1.00/m3 | $500.00 |
| Total | $650.00 |
In SkyBill, tariff components represent the products, while totaling types determine the quantities. Each totaling type is simply a calculation method that produces a number. You combine this calculated quantity with units of measure, rates, and other parameters later when building the tariff.
It is crucial to understand that totaling types are used solely to calculate the quantity. They are not associated with any unit of measure, rate, or amount.
To set up a totaling type
- Select Search (Alt+Q)
in the upper-right corner, enter Utility Tariff Components, and then choose the related link. - Select an existing tariff component or choose New to create a new one.
- On the Utility Tariff Component Card page, in the Totaling Type field, select the totaling type that best fits your billing scenario.
To learn more, see Tariff components.
Totaling types overview
Each totaling type defines a specific method for calculating quantities or charges in SkyBill.
SkyBill is designed to be flexible and adaptable to various billing scenarios. This applies to the totaling types. Each time you create a new tariff component, remember that the three most commonly used options are Consumption, Days, and Formula. Start with the three most common options and consider others only if these three do not meet your requirements.
The following table provides a quick overview of all available totaling types and their primary purpose.
| Totaling type | Description |
|---|---|
| Billing Months | [Add description] |
| Bulk Consumption Allocation | Allocates the bulk meter's total consumption to each supply address. SkyBill applies an allocation key to calculate the proportion. For example, it can allocate consumption based on the size of each supply address. |
| Bulk Difference Allocation | Distributes the difference between the bulk meter total and the sum of submeter readings. Often used to manage heat losses. |
| Bulk Difference Allocation Exclusive | [Add description] |
| Consumption | Calculates the consumption by comparing the current meter reading with the previous one. |
| Days | Charges a daily amount regardless of consumption. Typically used for standing or administrative fees. |
| Fixed | Applies a fixed amount per billing period, independent of the number of days or consumption. |
| Formula | Calculates the quantity using a custom formula that combines other tariff components or constants. |
| Highest Value | Uses the highest recorded meter value during the billing period. Commonly used by electricity providers to charge for peak demand. |
| Margin | [Add description] |
| Monthly | [Add description] |
| Related Utility | [Add description] |
| Seasonal Time | [Add description] |
| Spot | Uses smart meter interval data (for example, every 15 minutes) to calculate charges based on spot prices. |
| SUB | [Add description] |
| Table | Determines quantities based on data from a specific table and field, such as headcount recorded on the supply address page. |
| Time of Use | Applies different rates for different times of day or seasons. Commonly used for electricity tariffs to reflect peak and off-peak rates. |
Understanding complex totaling types
Some totaling types are straightforward, while others require more context to understand how they work in real billing scenarios.
Bulk Consumption Allocation
Use an allocation key to distribute the bulk meter's total consumption across supply addresses. This approach uses the bulk meter as the basis for calculation, treating its reading as the total consumption. A practical example of using the Bulk Consumption Allocation is allocating hot-water heating in a multi-apartment building. Instead of billing each apartment based on its submeter reading, you can allocate the total consumption recorded by the bulk meter among all apartments based on their size (square metres) or the number of occupants.
Important
Bulk Consumption Allocation, Bulk Difference Allocation, and Bulk Difference Allocation Exclusive totaling types are designed to work with bulk meters. A bulk meter measures the total consumption for a group of supply addresses, such as all apartments in a building. The bulk meter is linked to a bulk meter point, while each apartment has its own submeter linked to a submeter point. The bulk meter point and submeter points are all part of the same meter point group. Make sure to set up the meter point group correctly to use these totaling types.
How to set up Bulk Consumption Allocation
After selecting Bulk Consumption Allocation as the Totaling Type on the Utility Tariff Component Card page, you need to define the allocation key. To learn more, see Define Tariff Components for Billing. The allocation key determines how the total consumption is distributed among the submeters. To set it up, you need to select one of the options in the Allocation Key field:
- Sub Meter Consumption allocates the total consumption recorded by the bulk meter based on the consumption recorded by each submeter. Apartments with higher consumption receive a larger share of the total consumption.
- Sub Meter Sq. Meters allocates the total consumption based on the size of each apartment in square meters. Square meters are specified in the Space field on the Supply Address Card page. To learn more, see To create a new supply address
- Sub Meter Point Equal allocates the total consumption equally among all apartments, regardless of their consumption or size.
- Sub Meter Headcount allocates the total consumption based on the number of occupants in each apartment. You need to specify this number in the Headcount field on the Supply Address Card page.
Note
You cannot create new keys to be used in the Allocation Key field. SkyBill has a predefined list of allocation keys that cannot be edited.
Bulk Difference Allocation
Distribute the difference between the bulk meter total and the sum of submeters. SkyBill allocates this difference proportionally among all submeters using an allocation key.
Note
The only difference between Bulk Consumption Allocation and Bulk Difference Allocation is that in the first one, SkyBill allocates the total consumption recorded by the bulk meter. In contrast, in the second case, SkyBill allocates only the difference between the bulk meter reading and the sum of the submeter readings.
SkyBill treats bulk meter readings as the total consumption for the entire building, whereas submeter readings reflect only individual apartment usage. Typically, the bulk meter is owned by the utility company, and its readings reflect the actual quantities delivered to the building. In most cases, the utility company has much easier access to the bulk meter, while individual apartments may have submeters that are less accessible. The bulk meter reflects the quantity for which the utility company must be compensated.
Important
The fact that the readings from the bulk meter are considered the definitive reference for the utility company is crucial. In some cases, the difference between the bulk meter reading and the sum of the submeter readings can be negative. In such cases, SkyBill uses the allocation key to calculate the negative amount that is to be applied to the individual apartments. Such a situation can occur when customers manually enter submeter readings. In such cases, utility companies typically expect customers to enter the readings within a specific time frame. If some customers delay submitting their readings, it can lead to discrepancies. Occasionally, the sum of submeters can exceed the bulk meter reading, resulting to negative differences.
Set up the allocation keys in the same way as for the Bulk Consumption Allocation totaling type. To learn more, go to the How to set up Bulk Consumption Allocation section.
Example scenario: Managing heat losses in multi-apartment heating systems
When you provide heating to a multi-apartment building, the heat is distributed through a central system. Each apartment has its own submeter to measure the heat consumption. The bulk meter measures the heat supplied to the entire building. Often, the total heat recorded by the bulk meter exceeds the sum of the readings from all submeters. This difference occurs because of losses in the heating system, such as heat escaping through pipes, or because of heating shared spaces like stairs. In such cases, you can use the Bulk Difference Allocation totaling type to allocate this difference proportionally among all apartments based on some parameters, such as apartment size (square meters).
Days
Charge a daily amount, regardless of consumption. The number of days is equal to the billing period length in days, unless you turn on the Use Fixed Days toggle on the Utility Tariff Component Card page. For example, if the billing period is one month, the number of days varies from 28 to 31, depending on the month. But if the tenant moves in or out during the month, the number of days is calculated from the move-in or move-out date to the end of the month. This totaling type is typically used for a standing charge. You can set up a tariff component with the Days totaling type to apply an administration fee for the meter. Such a fee is charged daily, regardless of the consumption.
Fixed
Charge a fixed amount for the billing period. Compared to the Days totaling type, this one does not depend on the number of days in the billing period. The amount remains constant for each billing cycle.
Formula
Calculate quantity with a custom formula. To create a formula for a tariff component, you need to define the formula structure and specify the variables used in the calculation. On the Utility Tariff Component Card page, in the Totaling Type field, select Formula, and define your formula in the Totaling field.
Example scenario 1: Quantity of sewage based on water consumption
The most common scenario for the formula totaling type is to calculate sewage quantity based on water consumption. It's common practice for utility companies to charge sewer fees based on water consumption. Follow these steps to set up the formula for this scenario.
Create a tariff component for water consumption with the Totaling Type set to Consumption. For example, name this component WATER.
Create another tariff component for the portion of water consumption that is assumed to flow back into the sewer system after use. For example, name this component RTS (return to sewer). Enter the following information in the RTS utility component card:
- In the Totaling Type field, select Table.
- In the Totaling Table No. field, specify the table that you want to use as a source of the data. In our example, select the Meter table.
- In the Field No. in Contract Line specify the field, in the previously selected table, that you want to use as a source of the data. In our example, select the Meter No. field.
- In the Totaling field, enter the name of the field specified in the Field No. in Contract Line. In our example, enter Return to Sewer.
You can find the Return to Sewer field on the Meter Chargeable Data FastTab on the Meter Card page. If this field is set to 1, SkyBill assumes that 100% of the water consumption returns to the sewer system. You can set the value of this field to be less than 1, for example 0.5, to indicate that only 50% of the water consumption flows back into the sewer system.
If you use the previously described setup for the RTS tariff component but don't enter a value in the Return to Sewer field on the meter, SkyBill uses the default value of 0. This means that no water is assumed to flow back into the sewer system.
Note
Some tariff components are created to be used by other components. They do not appear as standalone tariff lines and are not presented separately on a bill. Their only purpose is to enable complex calculations. In our example, the RTS is used solely as a component in the formula for another tariff component.
Create a tariff component for the sewer calculation. For example, name this component SEWER. Enter the following information in the SEWER utility component card:
- In the Totaling Type field, select Formula.
- In the Totaling field, enter the formula that defines how to calculate the quantity of sewage. In our example, enter:
WATER*RTS.
By entering the formula WATER*RTS, we instruct SkyBill first to calculate the WATER tariff component, then to calculate the RTS tariff component, and finally to multiply the results of both calculations to obtain the quantity for the SEWER tariff component. Follow these steps to understand how the formula works in practice.
Example scenario 2: Hot water heating based on hot water consumption
The second most common scenario for the formula totaling type is to calculate the hot water heating. Utility companies often charge customers for heating based on hot water consumption multiplied by a specific parameter. The formula converts cubic meters to kWh.
Create a tariff component for hot water consumption with the Totaling Type set to Consumption. For example, name this component HOT WATER.
Create another tariff component for hot water heating. For example, name this component HEATING. Enter the following information in the HEATING utility component card:
- In the Totaling Type field, select Formula.
- In the Totaling field, enter your formula. For example, enter
HOT WATER*57.
The HOT WATER*57 formula represents the following calculation: you need 57 kWh of energy to heat one cubic meter of water.
As opposed to Example 1, we are not selecting tables and fields in the Totaling Table No. and Field No. in Contract Line fields. This is because, in this example, we are not using any data from the SkyBill tables. The formula is based solely on the value of another tariff component and a constant number.
Highest value
The Highest value totaling type selects the highest recorded value from the meter readings during the billing period. This setup requires that the customer installs a demand meter or a meter with an additional register. Such a meter measures the peak usage over a specific interval, such as 15 minutes.
Example scenario: Charging for peak electricity demand
Electricity providers often use the Highest value to charge for the highest power demand recorded during the billing period. From the provider's perspective, this is necessary to ensure that the infrastructure can handle peak loads. For example, the customer can use the powerful construction devices, but only for a short period. The provider needs to ensure that the infrastructure can handle such peaks, even if they occur only occasionally. Therefore, the provider charges the customer an additional amount based on the highest power demand recorded during the billing period.
Spot
To use the Spot totaling type, you need a smart meter that records consumption in intervals, such as every 15 minutes. Then it uses the meter readings for each particular interval and calculates the charge based on the spot price for that specific interval. Learn more about the Spot Rate in the Meter Readings.
Table
Use a table to determine the quantity based on specific criteria. This totaling type is useful when the quantity depends on predefined values rather than direct measurements or calculations.
After setting the Totaling Type to Table on the Utility Tariff Component Card page, you need to specify the source of the data. To do this, you must configure three fields on the Utility Tariff Component Card page: Totaling Table No., Field No. in Contract Line, and Totaling.
- In the Totaling Table No. field, select the table that contains the data you want to use for the calculation. You can choose only one of the following tables: Supply Address, Meter Point, or Meter.
- In the Field No. in Contract Line field, select the specific field from the previously selected table.
- Meter No. field if you selected the Meter table. - Meter Point No. field if you selected the Meter Point table. - Supply Address No. field if you selected the Supply Address table.
- In the Totaling field, enter the name of the field specified that you want to use for the calculation.
To set up the Table totaling type, first specify the table in the Totaling Table No. field. Out of the huge list of tables displayed in the drop-down menu, you can only choose the tables representing the infrastructure.
As a next step, you need to specify two different fields in the selected table. The first field, entered in the Field No. in Contract Line, represents the unique identifier (the key) of the record in the selected table. The second field is specified in the Totaling section and represents the actual data used for the calculation. For example, the number of occupants based on the Headcount field or the size of the supply address based on the Space field. You need to enter the exact name of the field in the Totaling field.
Example scenario: Quantity based on the number of occupants
Use the number of occupants specified in the supply address to determine the quantity, then apply the rate per occupant in the tariff. Follow these steps:
- On the Utility Tariff Component Card, in the Totaling Type field, select Table.
- In the Totaling Table No. field, specify the table that you want to use as a source of the data. In our example, select the Supply Address table, as it contains the Headcount field, which represents the number of occupants.
- In the Field No. in Contract Line specify the field, in the previously selected table, that you want to use as a source of the data. In our example, select the Supply Address No. field.
- In the Totaling field, enter the name of the field specified in Field No. in Contract Line. For example, enter Headcount.
Another example of using the Table totaling type is described in the quantity of sewage based on water consumption scenario.
Time of Use
You can apply different rates to specific hourly ranges within a day or to different seasons. This totaling type works with the Time of Use Maps list, which lets you define different segments of the day and seasons. Each segment can have its own rate specified in the tariff line.
The Time of Use totaling type is most commonly used for electricity tariffs. Consumption can vary significantly by hour, and electricity providers often apply different rates to encourage off-peak usage. Despite its name, the Time of Use totaling type measures consumption, such as kWh for electricity, not time in hours or minutes. Think of the Time of Use as a modified version of the Consumption totaling type. In both cases, the calculation is based on meter readings. The difference is that in the Time of Use totaling type, you can define different segments of the day and different seasons in your tariff, and apply different rates to each segment. To learn more, see Time of Use.
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