Prepayment Solution

What is the prepayment solution?

The prepayment solutions aim to simultaneously allow consumers to control their consumption and the utility company to control revenue collection through the utilization of various payment forms. Utilities have the flexibility to choose between charging the meter directly, which means the credit recharge operations are done directly through the meter, or indirectly through the  use  of a Customer Interface Unit (CIU).

Features

No need for Meter Reading

All information is transferred directly to the utility through vending stations

No need for money collectors

Credit recharge transactions are done at vending stations

Consumers have control over their consumption

Consumers have the ability to budget their consumption by choosing the payment form that best suits their needs

Revenue collection for utilities is guaranteed

Consumers have to go to vending stations to recharge credit

Allows utilities to better allocate their resources

Money collectors and meter readers can be re-utilized to fulfill other tasks

Allows easier detection of tampering and fraud

All data and events are transferred to the utility via a secure medium

Mobile Vending

The solution can easily be re-configured to support different Payment forms

There is no need to physically change the system in order to switch between payment form

Prepayment Solution

The prepayment solution supports contact and contactless cards. The events registered by the system are:

  • Power Monitoring
    • Power supply failure events
    • Power supply Activation events
    • Over voltage events
    • Under voltage events
  • Configuration & Control
    • Change in operating modes: Basic, Prepayment, Postpayment mode and vice-versa
    • Reading and Configuration events (Via Optical, etc….)
    • Date and time adjustment
  • Tampers
    • Over Maximum demand events
    • Reverse Connection Detection
    • Different types of meters can detect different forms of tampers
  • Credit Control (Incase of Payment Plans)
    • Credit recharge events
    • Scheduled cut-off date
    • Missing Credit events

Customer Interface Unit

In addition to the prepayment solution the consumer has the option to choose a Customer Interface Unit (CIU) through the meter is being charged indirectly:

  • Two-way communication with the Meter via one of the following methods
    • Radio communication via wired/wireless M-bus
    • RS-485
    • PLC
    • ZigBee
    • Bluetooth
  • Real time information displayed to the end-user
  • The Meter is accessible to utility field technical staff for audits & inspections at all hours
  • Significantly reduces the risk of tampering with the meter
  • The CIU can be configured to indicate several events, tampers, etc…
  • Consumers can track their consumption from the comfort of their home
  • Various topologies of remote access systems are possible depending on the nature of the site and the communication technology used within the split meter
  • The CIU provides both visible and audible alarms to indicate that the credit level is at or below preset “low level” limits

payment forms

Open Account

  • The system functions as a smart replacement for the mechanical meter
  • The Cut-off device isn’t related to bills
  • The Cut-off device can be pre-configured by the Utility to disconnect in case of Tampers/Events

 

Advanced Payment

  • Credit amount is normally charged before use just like in any prepayment system
  • The system supports offers the use of the Grace Period (if configured by the utility company) which provides an optional amount that is allowed to be consumed after reaching 0 credit (customizable friendly option)
  • The plan uses a billing cycle, so consumers are placed in the tariff bracket that correctly matches their usage

Limited Credit Payment

  • Payment is made at the end of the billing cycle just like in any postpaid system
  • It allows the customer/Utility to set a limit to be used during each billing cycle
  • If that limit is exceeded then the service will be disconnected until the next billing cycle i.e. (There is no Grace Period)
  • If a consumer decides to use the service again during the original cycle, then he/ she can add an extra prepaid amount to be able to complete the original billing cycle

Credit Payment

  • Payment is made at the end of the billing cycle just like in any postpaid system
  • The system allows for charging credit within a grace period after the end of each billing cycle
  • The amount accumulated during the grace period is considered a part of the next billing cycle