XML e-invoice development
Since 2009, LEP has been working with GS1UK and utilities companies to develop an XML e-invoice, which aims to
- Provide a standardised and predictable structure, which communicates business data rapidly, efficiently and accurately, irrespective of internal hardware or software types
- Enable customers to achieve cost recovery from erroneous invoices through efficient processing and validation of gas and electricity bills for multi-site customers
- Ensure customers can receive and process multi-site consolidated invoices
- Achieve efficiencies through automated validation processing
- Reduce the cost of developing organisational systems to process invoices
- Improve competitiveness in the industry by enabling customers to move between suppliers
- Level the playing field for suppliers by having an adopted and recognised "best practice" billing standard
- Ensure customers can have clear site data, consumption, cost and other necessary data streams.
Development of this new global electronic invoice standard is being managed by the Utilities Standards and Implementation Group (USIG). The group currently includes most leading utility suppliers, large commercial customers and public sector organisations and many energy management solution providers and is co-chaired by npower and to represent public sector interests, LEP.
The development work is progressing well and it is hoped that the new XML schema will be completed during the 2010-11 financial year. You can find further information on the GS1UK website at http://www.gs1uk.org/what-we-do/sector-solutions/Pages/Utilities.aspx Opens in a new window. LEP hopes to launch an implementation plan with interested boroughs in 2011.
