Harris Utilities formally released inCharge, a prepaid smart-metering solution that gives consumers absolute control over their utility services by allowing them to purchase these services on-demand. Rich with sophisticated tools that allow consumers to pay on their own terms and help them understand how to conserve resources, inCharge can be implemented in any utility environment - regardless of size or commodities distributed. "inCharge gives utilities peace of mind by allowing them to provide the best service possible with the least amount of disruption to their billing cycle," says Brad Atchison, executive vice-president of inCharge. "For consumers it lets them pay on their own terms, and helps them understand how to conserve resources while better managing their budget." inCharge offers peace of mind for utilities by: · operating seamlessly with any vendor's advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), meter data management (MDM) application and customer information system (CIS), · limiting exposure to difficult customer service interactions , connection/disconnection expenses and collection activities associated with bad debt, · transforming the relationship with consumers and giving them the responsibility to manage their accounts. inCharge establishes an open and direct relationship between utilities and their customers. It allows consumers to: · be in control by providing a convenient payment option and allowing them to purchase what they need on-demand, · reduce consumption by demonstrating a clear link between the commodities used and the money spent, · save money as up-front deposits become a thing of the past, · view business and household consumption patterns and account balances on a near-real-time basis, and in easy-to-understand formats. Harris Utilities
