Utility Billing & CIS
One system for billing, payments, service orders, and customer account management.
Because utility operations already have enough surprises.
The hub of your utility operations
ONE SOURCE OF TRUTH FOR CUSTOMER & BILLING DATA
Trusted by utilities and local governments for decades, Alliance brings billing, payments, customer accounts, meter data, service locations, and reporting together in one connected platform.
Instead of juggling disconnected systems and manual processes, staff can access the information they need from a single source of truth, helping improve efficiency, accuracy, and customer service.
Simplify day-to-day operations with:
- Flexible billing and payment management
- Partial payments, overpayments, and prepayments
- Deposit and transaction adjustments
- Meter reading entry and validation
- Complete account history and audit trails
- Detailed reporting and financial visibility
Alliance also helps utilities improve collections, manage delinquent accounts, forecast cash flow, and reduce administrative workload through centralized account management and reporting tools.
Its modern interface gives staff faster access to customer information, billing records, service locations, and account history, helping reduce delays and support better customer service.
CONNECTED UNITED SYSTEMS APPLICATIONS
Device Management
Track meters, endpoints, registers, changeouts, and bins with integrated device management for utility assets, history, testing, and warranty records.
Field Service
Manage service orders quickly with mobile field service tools that help track crews, employees, equipment, and day-to-day utility operations.
Web Portal
Give customers easy online access to payments, account management, billing information, and timely utility notifications from one web portal.
Counter Receipts
Process payments through a point-of-sale system that connects in-office transactions with utility billing and customer accounts.
Accounts Payable
Create and approve vouchers for refund credits and customer deposits
while simplifying financial workflows across utility office operations.
Built around your organization
SUPPORTING HOW YOU BILL & SERVE CUSTOMERS
Alliance adapts to your utility’s billing requirements, service structures, and account management processes without forcing you into rigid workflows, workarounds, or having to use multiple systems.
Capabilities include:
- User-defined services, rates, taxes, and service charges
- Standard, cycle, final, budget, contract, and ACH billing
- Installment and grouped account billing options
- Budget billing and bank draft management
- Temperature normalization and compound meter support
- Service deductions and customized billing rules
Whether you’re managing straightforward rate structures or complex billing requirements, Alliance provides the flexibility to adapt as your utility grows and changes.
Secure, reliable access without the infrastructure burden
Our cloud-based utility billing and CIS platform helps utilities reduce IT overhead while improving security, backup protection, system accessibility, and disaster recovery readiness.
Encrypted data is securely stored across multiple U.S. locations to support business continuity and recovery planning. Staff can securely access the platform remotely, helping simplify collaboration across office and field operations without relying on on-premise servers or complex hardware maintenance.
Benefits include:
- Reduced server and hardware maintenance
- Automatic backups and disaster recovery support
- Secure remote access for office and field staff
- Simplified software updates and system management
- Reduced infrastructure and licensing costs
- Improved operational continuity and accessibility
Base Functionality
- Utility billing and CIS software
- Meter tracking and AMR/AMI integrations
- Budget billing
- Bank drafts
- Payment processing and payment scanning
- Work order management
- IVR payment and notification tools
- Customer web portal and online payments
- Counter receipt and office payment tools
Financial & Municipal Tools
Extend utility operations with integrated financial, administrative, and municipal management tools designed to reduce duplicate entry and improve operational visibility across departments.
- General ledger and budgeting
- Bank reconciliation
- Accounts payable
- Purchase order management
- Inventory tracking
- Asset management
- Payroll and direct deposit
- Business license management
- Occupational tax management
- Insurance premium tracking
- Property tax billing and receivables
Features
Customer Account Management
Centralize customer records, account history, billing details, and supporting documentation in one connected utility billing and CIS platform.
- Attach photo IDs, contracts, service photos, and account documents to customer records
- Search customer accounts using flexible account, service, and billing data fields
- Access complete customer account and transaction history from a centralized platform
- Manage customer deposits, memberships, and connection fees with integrated account tracking
Meter Management & Reading
- Compatible with major AMR, AMI, and meter reading systems
- Process meter, endpoint, and register changeouts
- Support compound meters and deduction billing configurations
- Apply temperature normalization for gas utility billing
- Analyze customer consumption and usage trends with integrated reporting tools
Utility Billing Configuration
- Configure metered billing, service charges, taxes, and custom rate structures
- Support multiple bill printing and outsourced billing options
- Manage regular, estimated, final, budget, contract, and ACH billing workflows
- Streamline collections with billing reports, collection notices, write-offs, and recovery tracking
Workflow & Productivity Tools
- Estimate customer bills directly from account records
- Use barcode scanners for faster payment entry
- Track customer activity with notes, reminders, and account alerts
- View service locations through integrated utility mapping tools
- Create and manage service orders directly from customer accounts
- Reprint individual bills and account documents as needed
- Build targeted customer lists for automated calling and notifications
- Test billing rate changes before applying configuration updates
Payment & Transaction Management
- Support payment scanning, ACH, lockbox, IVR, credit/debit card processing, and integrated POS transactions
- Manage partial payments, overpayments, and prepayments across customer accounts
- Track transactions by batch number, operator, payment type, and processing activity
- Correct transaction entry errors and review unposted transactions during processing
- Configure penalties, adjustments, and delinquent account management workflows
- Integrate transaction data with general ledger and financial management tools
Utility Reporting & Analytics
- Generate, view, print, and export utility reports in multiple formats
- Access linked customer, billing, and transaction data for faster research and account review
- Create customized reports using flexible user-defined reporting options
- Compare current billing rates with proposed rate adjustments before applying changes
Utility Billing & CIS FAQ
What is utility billing software?
Utility billing software helps utilities manage customer accounts, meter readings, billing, payments, service locations, reporting, and collections from a centralized system. It streamlines billing operations while improving accuracy, efficiency, and customer service.
What is a Customer Information System (CIS)?
A Customer Information System (CIS) is the system of record for utility customer accounts. It stores customer information, service locations, billing history, meter data, payments, adjustments, and account activity, providing staff with a complete view of each customer relationship.
What is the difference between utility billing software and a CIS?
The terms are often used interchangeably. A CIS serves as the central database for customer and account information, while utility billing software uses that information to generate bills, process payments, manage services, and support customer operations.
Can United Systems' billing/CIS software integrate with AMI and smart metering systems?
Yes. We integrate with AMI, AMR, and meter data collection systems to streamline meter reading, validation, billing, and reporting processes. This helps utilities improve billing accuracy while reducing manual data entry.
Does United Systems support online payments and customer self-service?
Yes. Our utility billing/CIS integrate directly with customer payment and self-service solutions that allow customers to view account information, make payments, enroll in autopay, manage paperless billing preferences, and access account history online.
Can United Systems' billing/CIS software manage multiple utility services?
Yes. United Systems’ billing/CIS solution supports water, gas, electric, sanitation, and other utility services within a single platform. Utilities can configure rates, billing structures, service agreements, and account requirements to fit their operational needs.
How does United Systems' software help improve billing accuracy?
Our billing/CIS software includes tools for meter reading validation, account auditing, billing review, transaction tracking, and reporting. These capabilities help utilities identify exceptions, reduce errors, and improve confidence in billing processes.
Does United Systems' software support complex billing requirements?
Yes. United Systems’ software supports a wide variety of billing structures, including user-defined rates, service charges, taxes, budget billing, installment billing, ACH billing, contract billing, and customized billing rules.
How does United Systems help improve customer service?
By providing staff with immediate access to customer accounts, billing history, payments, service locations, and account activity, our billing/CIS solution helps reduce response times, improve issue resolution, and deliver a better customer experience.
Who is United Systems' billing/CIS software designed for?
Our software is designed specifically for water, gas, and electric utilities; municipalities; utility districts; and local government organizations that need a flexible, integrated platform for utility operations.
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.