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What Keeps an Itron AMI Project on Track?
An Itron AMI deployment involves far more than installing meters. Utilities must coordinate teams, data, vendors, integrations, testing, training, and customer expectations. United Systems provides practical project support that keeps responsibilities clear, resolves issues early, and helps utilities move from installation into stable daily operations.
How can utilities prepare for El Niño now?
Utilities need to prepare now for a building El Niño. This article lays out the practical checklist utilities can follow ahead of potentially disruptive, even dangerous weather impacts.
How will El Niño impact utilities?
Utilities: are you ready for El Niño? The climate phenomenon is expected to bring disruptive, even dangerous, weather conditions into next year.
How Should Utility Billing Software Handle Complex Rate Structures?
Utility billing software should accurately apply complex rate structures, including tiered rates, seasonal rates, customer classes, fees, adjustments, and meter-based billing rules. The right system also makes calculations traceable, validates usage data, and helps utility staff explain charges clearly.
Turning Your Biggest Cybersecurity Risk into Your Strongest Defense
United’s IT experts reveal the three principles every utility should keep in mind to strengthen what is both their biggest cybersecurity risk and defense: their people.
Postage Is Going Up. Again. Now What?
USPS postage rates are increasing again on July 12, 2026. This article explains what the increase means for utility billing costs and how United Systems’ Utility Process Management (UPM) can help utilities reduce manual print-and-mail work while supporting paperless billing options.
7 Signs Your Utility Needs Better Billing Software
Learn seven signs your utility may need better billing software, from manual data entry and billing errors to disconnected systems, slow reporting, and limited integrations.
Gas AMI Still Starts with Billing. It Shouldn’t Stop There.
Gas AMI should not stop at billing. While accurate reads, fewer estimates, and reduced truck rolls remain valuable, modern gas AMI also gives utilities better operational awareness through alarms, on-demand reads, usage patterns, remote capabilities, and faster insight when something looks abnormal.
4 Cybersecurity Priorities for Utilities Protecting Critical Infrastructure
The threat of cyber attacks continues to grow, with public infrastructure a high risk target. United Systems’ IT experts break down the four key ways utilities can protect critical infrastructure.
Employee Spotlight: Richard Hall
Richard Hall is a Project Manager with a career spanning 25 years at United Systems. But that title is just one hat he wears. Richard is a veteran, pilot, paratrooper, teacher, sailor, and more. His love of learning and teaching has served him well at United, and in life!
Why Plain Language Matters in Utility Customer Communication
Utility customers respond better to communication that is clear, direct, and easy to understand. Plain language reduces confusion, improves trust, and helps utilities communicate more effectively during stressful situations like outages and high bills.
The Hardest Part of Utility Funding Isn’t the Funding
Small and mid-sized utilities are facing a growing challenge: not identifying infrastructure needs but finding the operational capacity to manage modernization projects while handling daily utility operations.
Why Utility Billing/CIS Projects Fail: 7 Risk Factors
Most utility billing and CIS projects fail due to people, data, and governance issues… not technology. Learn the 7 key risks and how to avoid costly implementation failures.
Why Utility Operations Fail During Storms (and What to Fix Before the Next One)
Storm events expose operational weaknesses utilities already have: disconnected systems, delayed communication, and inefficient workflows.
Employee Spotlight: Tracy Lowe
Tracy Lowe is a Project Manager at United Systems (USS) who brings 30+ years of healthcare technology experience to leading Alliance G4 to G5 and UPM conversions. Known for her collaborative style and “work smarter, not harder” mindset, she guides customers through seamless software transitions while strengthening USS’s culture of teamwork and innovation.
Ready to reduce friction across operations?
Coordinate billing, payments, customer service, metering, work orders, and operational workflows through utility-focused technology and support services. Talk with our team to learn how United Systems supports utilities through technology, operational services, metering, customer service, and workflow management.
