Bill Against Associated Data

GB – BillAgainstAssociatedData

Compares any field in the Bill against a figure in an Associated Data channel. For example, comparing the Gas Pence Per Unit (PPU) against an Associated Data Channel (which contains the PPU) attached to an Account.

This Validator can be used to verify the pence per unit (PPU) rates on your bill against the rate you expect it to be (which will be entered in an Associated Data Channel).

If you are on a flexible contract, but have locked in your volumes and have an expectation of the rate you will be charged, if this is entered in the Associated Data Channel before the receipt and processing of the bill, it can be validated.

Requirements:

Knowledge of how to identify Bill Tags (the number that identifies each field in a bill)
An Associated Data Channel needs to be created with the specified value, ie the Gas PPU rate
- If the value varies from Account to Account, you would need an Associated Data Channel for each Account. If the value is the same for every Account, the Associated Data Channel could be set up at Organisation level.
  - The PPU values needs to be added to the Channel for the period of time that the rates are effective. When prices change, the Channel can be updated
- Different Associated Data Channel Types need to be created for each type of PPU, for example
  - PPU ELEC RATE 1
  - PPU ELEC RATE 2
  - PPU GAS RATE
  - PPU WATER
- Click here for more details on how to create an Associated Data Channel

Validation Capability

Compares the values/rate entered in the invoice against the rate(s) in the Associated Data Channel, based on the time and date of the billing period
- Rates are time and date stamped which means older invoices can be processed and validated against the older rates as well as the current invoice being processed if the rate has changed
Can be set to compare the exact value or set to compare within a percentage tolerance

Validator Set Up

Variables

Field	Description
Bill tag to be checked against Associated Data	Click here for information on how to find the Bill Tag, for example enter 2201 for the Gas PPU
Tolerance % for bill tag value when compare to Associated Data	Minimum value of 0 (This would mean the two figures will need to match exactly)
Actual Associated Data Channel Use either the Actual Associated Data Channel OR The Associated Data Type (see below)	The exact name of the Associated Channel located under the parent Item (ie the Account) Enter: PPU GAS RATE (Exactly as written in the Channel Name field)
Associated Data Type	Enter the Associated Data Channel Type located in the Associated Data Channel under the Account. Enter this exactly as it is in the Channel. For example: Enter: PPU GAS RATE (Exactly as written in the Data type field) In the Associated Data Channel: OR right click on the Associated Data Channel > Manage Associated Data:
Actual Parent Item holding the required Associated Data Channel If not chosen, use the second option below	Use to choose the actual Item, such as the Account (NOT Mandatory).
Type of parent item where the required Associated Data is stored	Choose the Item type from the dropdown, such as Account, Site etc that the Associated Data Channel sits under. For example Account

Bill Entry details

Associated Data Channel details

Failure Prompt

Bill Tag vs Associated Data value: FAILED - the name of the Validator

Bill tag value (2201)=0.017456 - The tag number and value the validator is checking (15.5p)

Associated data value (PPU GAS RATE) 0.0165 - The figure in the Associated data channel that it is checking against (10.5p)

The two figures (Bill: 1.7456p and Associated Data Channel: 1.65p) do not match exactly and the validator fails (as a 0% tolerance has been set)