Change Rate Type
Application component: Contract Billing
App type: SAP GUI
Description: You store the billing rules for the utility company in this component. The rate is the most important element of billing. The appropriate rate is derived from the rate category and the rate type during rate determination. A rate category is allocated to each utility installation. It contains data that controls the cross-rate processing of meter reading data and billing. The data can be overridden by individual entries in the installation. The rate type establishes the rate allocation of the registers and is usually stored in the installation structure. It can also be stored in the rate category or in the installation, for example, in the case of flat-rate installations. The graphic below illustrates the interaction between the different elements of contract billing. Note This indirect rate allocation in conjunction with a rate type has advantages if you want to change a rate. You must only enter a new rate category for the utility installations concerned and enhance the rate determination. You are not required to change the rate types for each individual register of the affected installations. Interaction Between Billing Master Data Operands are descriptive variables defined by the utility company. The rate allocates values – such as price or demand – to the operands. The operand values serve as input and output parameters for the variant programs. The contractual billing rules are stored in the variant programs (for example, quantity x price). You define how billing values such as measured consumption or demand are to be processed and calculated. The billing scheme groups rates together and defines the order in which rates to be billed and the variant programs are to be executed. 
Key features: Creation of rates: How measured consumption values are extrapolated or distributed for processing of meter reading data and for prorations Which billing-relevant values are measured by a register Which reference values are billed (for example, for flat-rate services) In which calculation formulas the measured values or reference values are included Which prices are used Which constants, factors, and influencing values are included in the calculation To which general ledger accounts the results of the calculations (billing line items) are posted How the billing line items are handled statistically To which divisions and billing classes the rate is allocated  Control of rate categories: Monthly billing Period-end billing and floating backbilling Budget billing Outsorting checks Previous period checks Additional data relevant to billing (for example, agreed quantities, demand, prices, or flat rates)  Prices are allocated to the following price categories: Quantity-based prices Time-based prices Rental prices, for example, for rental of devices and meters Flat rates  You can define specific rounding rules and price adjustment clauses for all prices. Blocks or scales can be specified additionally for quantity-based prices and time-based prices. You can restrict the use of individual prices by assigning authorizations. Price adjustment clauses control the price adjustment factor. The base price is multiplied by this factor to obtain the current price.