Cash to Power Cycle
The Juice prepayment platform allows customers to take control over their electric service. Meter connections and disconnections are automated and conducted based on utility policy.
Adding Credit
Each customer account within Juice has a balance. The balance can be used for electricity purchases or payment of other charges. Depending on the meter, this balance may exist in Juice, in the meter, or both. Customer payments are applied first to any required arrears. The remainder, net of any taxes due, is then applied to the Juice balance. With token based systems, customers may elect to have all or part of their balance converted to an energy token for consumption. The system will return a token that will add the kWh value to the meter balance. Any remaining balance stays in the customer’s Juice balance as a reserve.
Using Power
Consumption may be tracked locally (by the meter) or on the Juice server via imported meter reads. As the consumption is detected, it will be deducted from the balance. Most systems will have a balance in kWh so no conversion will take place. However, if the balance is on the server as currency the tariff will be applied to the usage and deducted. As the system gathers more and more consumption data a usage profile for the account will be developed. Based on this profile, the system will send balance notifications when the account is below a certain threshold measured in days. Eventually the account will approach a zero balance and require disconnection.
Disconnections
If a customer’s balance reaches zero, the customer is scheduled for disconnection. Consumption is monitored closely and disconnect warnings are sent first thing in the morning. If a customer fails to add more credit, the system will automatically disconnect the meter. An SMS is sent before and after the final disconnection. Since this is an automated process, there is no fee to the customer and no negative impact in any way. Once the customer is able and willing funds can be added to reconnect the meter.
Reconnections
As a real-time system, Juice updates the customer balance as payments are received. When Juice receives a payment for a disconnected account that creates a positive credit balance, a reconnection request is issued. The system is designed to minimize the time from payment receipt to reconnection to the extent possible. Some meters may require a token or other action at the meter site.