The Utility Star Software suite is continuously being improved with new functionality in order to meet expanding business requirements. Sometimes even a minor system improvement may greatly increase user convenience.

This month's system update is just one such improvement! Utility Star software now employs a filter for "Utility Type". This new change affects Payment Entry and Payment Station functionality. System users may now choose to sort customer payments by "Utility Type" to apply partial account payments (i.e. when a customer does not pay the full amount of their outstanding bill). This new filter has the advantage of allowing users to apply payment amounts to multiple charges associated with a single Utility Type (e.g. water usage fee, water service fee, water service late fee, etc.), instead of applying each individual revenue code for say.

1. Utility Star systems updated to version 9.9.075 or higher will now include this capability.

2. Log in USP/USG, Company -> Company Maintenance -> Other Rules. Set PayByRev’s value to “1” (a one-time process for setting up this new feature).

3. Company -> Payment -> Payment Entry or Payment Station. When the current payment amount is less than “Total Due”, the “Utility Type” filter will appear. Users may select one or more Utility Types from the dropdown menu, as illustrated below.

This is a screenshot of the Utility Type Filter:

This is a screenshot of the Pay by Revenue Code screen with the filter enabled (just showing charges for the Utility Type: Water):

Please contact Able Software for more information about Utility Star products.