The billing process in a deregulated market becomes more complex as products and services diversify and customers can easily switch from one provider to another. Also new billing schemes will be adopted like pre-paid energy, peak-hour savings rebates etc.
(Un)bundling also makes the billing process more complex, as more parties are involved in the value chain.
New European regulations on billing require complex adaptation and integration. In the Utilities sector, in addition to the possible unbundling of the water industry and privatization of some of the resulting companies in this industry, the scope of this challenge will extend. Many Telcos face the reverse challenge of bundling different products and services that they offer in one single billing systems and sending one bill to their customers.
This implies the need to carry out an alignment of accounting and other systems with that of the government accounting and taxations systems.
