Usage Rates Screen

Last verified with: 10.8.6.0

Overview #

The Usage Rates screen is used to define the individual rates that belong to a usage rate group. These rates determine how usage is priced after the usage has been classified and matched to the appropriate rate plan and rate group.

A usage rate can represent many kinds of billing logic, such as a fixed charge per event, a rate per minute, a rate per megabyte, a percentage markup, or a pass-through cost. If the selected rate group is configured as an aggregate group, the rate can also use tier-based pricing.

Rates are typically maintained as part of a broader pricing design, but this screen is also useful when you need to review, add, or adjust a specific rate manually.

Prerequisites #

• Classes need to be configured before rates can be set up.
• Rate groups need to be configured before rates can be set up.
• If you intend to use the GeoTree for rating, GeoTree locations must also be populated so the rate can be tied to a specific location or location group.

The Usage Rates Panel #

The Usage Rates panel on the left displays the rates that are already defined. Select a rate from the list to load its details in the edit panel on the right.

The list gives a compact view of each rate, including details such as the rate group, usage class, rated amount, unit, location, minimum charge, and rate type. This makes it easier to compare rates within the same group before opening one for editing.

Actions #

Icon	Description
	Deletes the selected rate
	Adds a new rate

The Edit Usage Rate Panel #

The panel on the right displays the selected rate and is where you configure or update its details.

Main Fields #

• Group: The usage rate group that this rate belongs to. The selected group controls important behavior on the screen, including whether the rate is standard, aggregate, use-for-cost, or pass-through.
• Type: A read-only summary of the selected group type. This helps confirm how the rate will behave before you continue configuring it.
• Display Name: An optional user-friendly label for the rate. This can make rates easier to identify in the list, especially when several rates share the same class.
• Usage Class: Identifies the class of usage that this rate applies to, such as data, voice, SMS, or another configured usage category.
• Rounding: Lets you apply a rounding rule to the rate. This is commonly used when usage must be rounded before billing, such as rounding call duration up to the next minute.
• Location: Limits the rate to a specific GeoTree location when the selected usage class uses GeoTree-based rating.
• Location Group: Limits the rate to a GeoTree location group instead of a single location. This is useful when the same rate should apply to a broader geographic grouping.

Rating Configuration #

• Rate Type: Determines how the rate amount is interpreted. Depending on the group configuration, available options can include rated, fixed, rated markup, markup, fixed markup, and other supported calculation types.
• Additional: Marks the rate as an additional rate so more than one rate can be applied to the same qualifying usage under the appropriate conditions.
• Base Unit Type: Defines whether the rate is calculated by count, data, or time.
• Unit Type: Works with the base unit type to define the billed unit, such as messages, records, seconds, minutes, megabytes, or another supported usage unit.
• Amount: The monetary amount or percentage used by the selected rate type. The way this value is applied depends on the rate type and unit configuration.
• Minimum Charge: Sets the lowest amount that can be billed for the rate. This helps enforce a minimum billed charge when the calculated usage amount would otherwise be too small.

Additional Accounting And Tax Fields #

• Service Tax Category: Associates the rate with a service tax category so downstream tax processing can apply the appropriate rules.
• GL Code: Associates the rate with a general ledger code for accounting and financial reporting purposes.

Notes About Conditional Behavior #

• The available fields change depending on the selected usage rate group and rate type.
• Pass-through groups simplify the screen because pricing values are not configured the same way as standard rated charges.
• Aggregate groups expose the Tiers tab and restrict the available rate types to the options supported by aggregate pricing.
• GeoTree fields are shown only when the selected usage class uses GeoTree-based rating.
• Rounding is available only after the base unit context is known.

Tiers Tab #

The Tiers tab is displayed when the selected usage rate belongs to an aggregate rate group. Use this tab to define tier-based pricing for the rate.

Tier Setup Fields #

• Tier Type: Determines how the aggregate tiers behave. This controls whether rating is bracketed or progressive.
• Counting Rule: Optionally links a counting rule to the tier configuration. This is typically used when pricing should depend on counts such as the number of active packages or services.

Tier List #

Each row in the tier list represents one pricing threshold.

• Start: The beginning of the tier range. This is derived from the previous tier and is read-only.
• End: The threshold at which the current tier ends. The final tier remains open-ended.
• Unit: Displays the unit used for the tier calculation.
• Amount Per Unit: The rate charged for usage that falls into the tier.

When configuring tiers, make sure the thresholds are entered in ascending order and that the final tier is left open-ended.

Adding Rates #

To add a rate:

1. In the Usage Rates panel, click Add.
2. Select the Group that the rate should belong to.
3. Complete the core fields such as Usage Class, Rate Type, Base Unit Type, Unit Type, and Amount.
4. If needed, configure Rounding, Location, Location Group, Service Tax Category, and GL Code.
5. If the selected group is aggregate, complete the Tiers tab.
6. Save the rate.

Configuring Tiers On Aggregate Rates #

To configure tiered pricing on an aggregate rate:

1. Add a new rate, or open an existing rate that belongs to an aggregate rate group.
2. Open the Tiers tab.
3. Select the Tier Type.
4. If required, select a Counting Rule.
5. Add the tier thresholds and define the Amount Per Unit for each tier.
6. Leave the final tier open-ended.
7. Save the rate.

Bracketed tiers apply pricing based on the tier reached by the total usage amount. Progressive tiers apply each tier’s price only to the usage that falls within that tier.

Editing Rates #

To edit an existing rate:

1. Select the rate in the Usage Rates panel.
2. Update the required fields in the edit panel.
3. Save the changes.

Deleting Rates #

To delete a rate:

1. Select the rate in the Usage Rates panel.
2. Click Delete.
3. Confirm the deletion when prompted.