This document will continue to evolve as existing sections change and new information is added. All updates appear in the following table:
| Date | Module | Feature | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 DEC 2022 | Created initial document. |
Oracle Utilities Opower provides a range of data-driven solutions, software products, and personalized insights to utility customers about their energy use.
This guide outlines the information you need to know about new or improved functionality in this update, and describes any tasks you might need to perform for the update. Each section includes a brief description of the feature, the steps you need to take to enable or begin using the feature, any tips or considerations that you should keep in mind, and the resources available to help you.
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Column Definitions:
Report = New or modified, Oracle-delivered, ready to run reports.
UI or Process-Based: Small Scale = These UI or process-based features are typically comprised of minor field, validation, or program changes. Therefore, the potential impact to users is minimal.
UI or Process-Based: Larger Scale* = These UI or process-based features have more complex designs. Therefore, the potential impact to users is higher.
Features Delivered Disabled = Action is needed BEFORE these features can be used by END USERS. These features are delivered disabled and you choose if and when to enable them. For example, a) new or expanded BI subject areas need to first be incorporated into reports, b) Integration is required to utilize new web services, or c) features must be assigned to user roles before they can be accessed.
| Ready for Use by End Users Reports plus Small Scale UI or Process-Based new features will have minimal user impact after an update. Therefore, customer acceptance testing should focus on the Larger Scale UI or Process-Based* new features. |
Customer Must Take Action before Use by End Users Not disruptive as action is required to make these features ready to use. As you selectively choose to leverage, you set your test and roll out timing. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature |
Report |
UI or |
UI or |
|
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Digital Self Service - Energy Management
NOTE: Not all new Digital Self Service - Energy Management features are available with Digital Self Service - Transactions. Refer to the Digital Self Service - Transactions Overview Guide for feature availability.
The Bill Guide is a unified dashboard of billing insights that helps customers better understand their most recent bill and upcoming bill. It includes the following components:
The Most Recent Bill presents information and insights about the last bill a customer received, including:
- Bill Breakdown: A detailed look at the components of the customer's most recent energy bill, including the date range, specific charges, total amount due, and a link to their account dashboard where they can view their bill.
- Neighbor Comparison: How a customer's energy use from their most recent bill compares to that of their neighbors.
- Weather Insight: The number of extreme weather days that occurred in the most recent bill period.
- Bill Trends: An overview of a customer's bills over time.
- Usage Breakdown: A view into the categories where a customer spent the most energy.
- Top End-Use Tip: An energy efficiency tip based on the customer's highest end-use category from the most recent bill period.
The Upcoming Bill presents insights about the next bill customers will receive so they can take preventive action, including:
Upcoming Bill: A summary of the customer's current usage or cost, their projected usage or cost, and how that compares to their typical usage or cost.
Upcoming Bill Tip: An energy efficiency tip to help customers take action before the current bill period is over.
Weather Insight: A summary of how many unusually hot or cold days have already occurred in the customer's bill period, and a forecast of how many more extreme weather days may occur.
Bill Guide reduces demand on utility call centers by providing customers with an intuitive interface where they can explore their bills and usage.
Steps to Enable
Contact your Service Delivery Manager to coordinate configuration of the module.
To contact your Service Delivery Manager:
- Log in to Inside Opower (https://inside.opower.com). This is your portal for questions and information related to your program.
- Go to the Community tab and contact the Service Delivery Manager using the information provided.
Key Resources
- Refer to the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Cloud Services Overview.
- Refer to the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Web Portal Configuration Guide.
- Refer to the Embeddable Widgets Integration Guide.
The Digital Self Service - Energy Management Rate Comparison, Rate Details, and Rate Simulator functionality were consolidated into a single Rate Comparison widget. The following components are included within the updated widget:
Rate Comparison: Allows customers to see a comparison of their eligible rate plans.
Rate Details: Allows customers to view additional information on their eligible rate plans.
Rate Simulator: Allows customers to simulate how their energy costs may be reduced under other eligible rate plans if they make changes to their energy use habits.
Combining the Rate Comparison, Rate Details, and Rate Simulator functionality into a single widget makes these features easier to set up, support, and extend with new functionality.
Steps to Enable
Contact your Service Delivery Manager to coordinate configuration of the module.
To contact your Service Delivery Manager:
- Log in to Inside Opower (https://inside.opower.com). This is your portal for questions and information related to your program.
- Go to the Community tab and contact the Service Delivery Manager using the information provided.
Key Resources
- Refer to the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Cloud Services Overview.
- Refer to the Embeddable Widget Integration Guide.
- Refer to the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Web Portal Configuration Guide.