N.C. DOC Tests Invoice Management Software

RALEIGH, N.C. – The North Carolina Department of Correction is the first department to implement a new invoice management system that will eventually be deployed to other government agencies in the state.

Cadence Network Inc. is providing software to streamline payment of state’s invoices for utilities, water, sewer, trash, lease and telecommunications. “In a government system as large as the North Carolina Department of Correction, there are obvious benefits to having detailed utility usage and cost data available to all levels of facility management,” said David L. Mosley of DOC Prison Facility Services. “The value of accurate utility information far exceeds the cost of the utility accounting system.”

North Carolina has embarked on its Utility Savings Initiative program with the goal of cutting energy, water and sewer usage and bills by 4 percent over the next five years.

With over 12,500 buildings and facilities spread throughout the state, there wasn't always a clear connection between cost and usage, no incentive to conserve resources and little oversight in utility accounting, officials say. The state started testing utility accounting software with the DOC.

“Now we are able to track costs by facility, by square footage and by inmate for a detailed accounting of state expenditures,” said Phil Bisesi of the State Energy Office. Mosley identified a benefit of working with Cadence is the ability to allow all of the facility and energy managers to routinely view the actual bill image and use deep analytical reports.

“In my opinion, having ready access to the bill image alone is more valuable than the cost per account that we pay for the utility accounting system,” Mosley said.