Canonical Definition
Consolidated billing is an arrangement in which charges from multiple service providers, most commonly a distribution utility and a competitive energy supplier in retail choice states, appear on a single bill issued by one party (typically utility consolidated billing, occasionally supplier consolidated billing). The customer makes one payment, which the billing party remits to the other provider. It contrasts with dual billing, where each provider bills separately; availability depends on state market rules.
Explanations
Consolidated billing puts charges from more than one company on a single bill. In some states, you can choose your energy supplier. There, your local utility's delivery charges and your supplier's energy charges often share one bill. You make one payment. The other option, called dual billing, sends a separate bill from each company. Whether this is offered depends on your state's rules.
Consolidated billing means two companies' charges come on one bill. You pay once instead of twice.
Analogy Bank
Consolidated billing is like one credit card statement covering purchases from many stores — one bill, one payment, with the settlement handled behind the scenes.
It's like a travel site bundling the flight, hotel, and car into a single charge.
For a business, it's like a master invoice from a prime contractor that includes the subcontractors' charges.
Do Not Say
- ✕Do not state whether consolidated billing is available to a customer; it depends on state market rules and the providers involved.
- ✕Do not imply consolidated billing changes total charges; it changes presentation and payment, not prices.