Utilities Group vs NorthStar CIS

Utilities Group9.4Visit NorthStar CIS8.4Visit

Higher score Utilities Group #1 in Utility Billing Software 9.4/10 Paid ✓ 4 of 5 features Try Utilities Group

vs

NorthStar CIS #8 in Utility Billing Software 8.4/10 Pricing on request ✓ 5 of 5 features Visit NorthStar CIS

• Utilities Group fits best

  Complex, multi-utility retailers

• NorthStar CIS fits best

  Established utilities needing flexible deployment

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Side by side

Feature	Utilities Group 9.4/10 Visit ↗	NorthStar CIS 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	8.4
Ranking	#1 in Utility Billing Software	#8 in Utility Billing Software
Best for	Complex, multi-utility retailers	Established utilities needing flexible deployment
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	$0.80/unit/mo	Pricing on request
Free plan	—	Not checked yet
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud, Self-hosted, Browser extension
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Email	Phone
Integrations	50+ integrations	8 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market
Features Utilities Group 4/5 · NorthStar CIS 5/5
Rate management	✓	✓
Meter data import	✓	✓
Payment processing	✓	✓
Autopay	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Customer account portal	✓	✓
Specs
Utility types	electricity, gas, solar, batteries, EV charging and VPPs	Not checked yet
Billing model	Mixed	Mixed
Our review
Pros	Real-time rating supports interval data, demand charges and tariffs Covers compliance, payments, market transactions and customer portals Integrates with finance, CRM, data and utility market systems	Supports tiered, time-of-use, and other configurable rate structures Imports meter data from AMR and AMI sources Offers web and self-hosted deployment options
Cons	Pricing is subject to a formal proposal and minimum commercial terms The Starter plan supports only one vertical Its breadth may exceed the needs of simple billing operations	Pricing requires contact with sales rather than published plans Portal and payment capabilities may depend on connected solutions May be more than smaller utilities need for basic billing
Our verdict	Utilities Group is a cloud billing platform for energy retailers and other operators billing metered or usage-based services. It supports electricity, gas, solar, batteries, EV charging and virtual power plants, alongside telco and… Read the review →	NorthStar CIS is a customer information and utility billing system for utilities and municipalities. It combines account management, multiple-utility statements, configurable rate structures, meter data imports, guided workflows,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Utilities Group — where it wins

  • Real-time rating supports interval data, demand charges and tariffs
  • Covers compliance, payments, market transactions and customer portals
  • Integrates with finance, CRM, data and utility market systems

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing is subject to a formal proposal and minimum commercial terms
  • The Starter plan supports only one vertical
  • Its breadth may exceed the needs of simple billing operations

• NorthStar CIS — where it wins

  • Supports tiered, time-of-use, and other configurable rate structures
  • Imports meter data from AMR and AMI sources
  • Offers web and self-hosted deployment options

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contact with sales rather than published plans
  • Portal and payment capabilities may depend on connected solutions
  • May be more than smaller utilities need for basic billing

• Utilities Group9.4/10 · Paid

  A broad utility billing platform for retailers managing complex markets, meters and tariffs.

  Try Utilities GroupFull verdict →
• NorthStar CIS8.4/10 · Pricing on request

  Flexible utility billing with configurable rates, meter imports, workflows, and deployment options.

  Visit NorthStar CISFull verdict →