{
  "schema": "mcsj-recipe-v1",
  "id": "recode-a-utility-billing-cycle",
  "title": "Recode a Utility Billing Cycle",
  "module": "Utility",
  "source": "C:/Solutions/michel/knowledge/foster/mcsj_assets/tip_sheets/recode_utility_billing_cycle.json",
  "confidence": "source-compiled",
  "timing_target_seconds": 30,
  "requires_live_mapping": true,
  "short_answer": "To recode one utility account, change the Cycle on the account's service setup. Use Cycle Maintenance only when you are changing the cycle setup itself, such as dates, active periods, or bill formats.",
  "steps": [
    {
      "phase": "navigate",
      "action": "Open the utility account",
      "path": "Billing and Collections \u00bb Utility Billing \u00bb Utility Account \u00bb Account Maintenance",
      "note": "Menu wording can vary slightly by security or customer setup."
    },
    {
      "phase": "operate",
      "action": "Change the account cycle",
      "checks": [
        "Pull up the correct utility account.",
        "Go to the Service tab or billed service line.",
        "Edit the service and change the Cycle.",
        "Save the account before calculating bills."
      ]
    },
    {
      "phase": "operate",
      "action": "Verify before billing",
      "checks": [
        "Confirm the service is active if it should bill.",
        "Check bill codes attached to the service.",
        "Confirm meter setup/readings if usage is billed.",
        "Preview/register the bill before printing."
      ]
    },
    {
      "phase": "operate",
      "action": "Cycle setup is different",
      "checks": [
        "Use Cycle Maintenance to change cycle dates or periods.",
        "Review due dates, covered dates, and active periods.",
        "Check bill format and eBill format if bills print/send wrong."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "watch_outs": [
    "Do not confuse changing an account's cycle with changing the cycle setup itself.",
    "For a whole group of accounts or a cycle merge, verify the safest process before making mass changes.",
    "If billing was already calculated under the wrong cycle, review reversal/recalculation needs before printing."
  ],
  "completion_contract": [
    "Use live chestervillagenydb only",
    "Verify record/batch ID before write",
    "Capture visible after-proof",
    "For batches, Save alone is incomplete; verify and Update/Post when applicable"
  ]
}