For utilities, the efficiency and accuracy of the meter to cash process is at the heart of financial stability and customer satisfaction. From account activation to recording meter data to generating bills, handling customer service inquiries, collecting payments, and account closure, every step must run smoothly to ensure revenue is accurate and customers are supported.
But many utilities still face obstacles: disconnected systems, manual fixes, long call times, and limited visibility. These challenges slow down operations, increase costs, and create frustration for both staff and customers.
That’s where the enQ Customer Information & Utility Billing solution (enQ CIS) from Systems & Software makes a difference. Built with utilities in mind, enQ CIS brings accuracy, efficiency, and flexibility to every stage of the meter to cash cycle.
At its core, the meter to cash process covers five critical steps:
- Account Activation & Management – Setting up new customers, sites, and services with clear workflows and automated checks. Automatically send service orders to the field so that the right work is done at the right time.
- Metering & Data Capture – Collecting usage from meters in real time and generating automated alerts when issues arise.
- Billing & Payments – Applying rate structures, generating accurate bills, and processing payments quickly from a variety of sources.
- Customer Service & Engagement – Helping customers resolve issues, request service, or pay bills through both live and self-service channels.
- Collections & Reconciliation – Managing delinquencies, payment plans, notices, and final financial reporting.
When these steps are managed in silos, utilities face delays, rework, and higher costs. When connected, they create a seamless experience for both staff and customers.
How enQ CIS Supports the Meter to Cash Process
1. Account Activation & Management
Utilities can activate accounts faster with software that guides staff through automated workflows for new sites, customers, and services. Centralized records track people, premises, and accounts, ensuring complete visibility into customer relationships and history.
2. Real-Time Meter Data
Integrated meter intelligence keeps staff informed with usage alerts, automated updates, and mobile-enabled work order management. Whether in the field or in the office, teams stay in sync and can respond quickly to service needs. Automatically gather reads for billing, collections, or field orders.
3. Flexible Billing & Collections
Billing systems support complex rate structures—tiered rates, surcharges, discounts, demand, TOU, NEM, and drought factors—while validation checks catch anomalies before charges post. Collections are managed through automated schedules, with rules for weekends, holidays, and landlord accounts. Payment agreements can be created directly by staff, requested online by customers, or even by third parties.
4. Smarter Customer Service
Customer-facing tools reduce call volumes and free up CSR time. Self-service portals, AI chat, and multilingual video communication help customers manage accounts, apply for service, or make payments on their own schedule. At the same time, CSRs have access to fast, accurate search tools and at-a-glance snapshots of accounts that streamline live support.
5. Compliance & Security
Document and data management capabilities ensure staff can securely access information when needed, whether for backflow tracking or audit readiness. With SOC 2–attested environments, utilities can also trust that sensitive information is protected.
The Benefits of an Integrated Meter to Cash Approach
By unifying account management, metering, billing, customer service, and collections into one environment, utilities can:
- Reduce billing errors and manual rework.
- Shorten customer call times and improve resolution rates.
- Eliminate silos between departments with a robust product and tight integrations
- Improve visibility for managers and directors.
- Automate daily processes so staff can focus on higher-value work.
- Deliver modern, accessible customer experiences.
Why Meter to Cash Matters Now
With rising customer expectations and increasing compliance demands, utilities can’t afford inefficiencies in the meter to cash process. Every delay, error, or missed step impacts not only revenue but also customer trust.
Modern platforms provide the tools utilities need to stay ahead ensuring accurate bills, faster service, secure operations, and better insight into performance.
By rethinking meter to cash as a connected, technology-enabled process, utilities can transform what was once a source of frustration into a driver of efficiency, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
Ready to modernize your utility’s meter to cash process? Contact Systems & Software to learn more about how we can help.
