AUTOMATED GAS BILLING SYSTEM

1.1 Theoretical Background

The technology used to implement the system is database management technology. Microsoft Access 2003 was used as the back end while Visual BASIC 6.0 was used to create the interface. Database technology aid the storage of information for easy retrieval and updating. For instance, the source code below queries the database using adodc control:

Private Sub Command1_Click()

Adodc1.Recordset.Filter = "TRANSACTION_DATE ='" & Text1.Text & "'"

End Sub

Fig 1.1: Gas bill database query form

1.2 Statement of the Problems

The following problems were identified:

1. Poor billing and collection practices primarily emanate from the lack of willingness of the service provider to accurately charge for services being delivered and the lack of a political will to set tariffs that would allow for recovering the costs incurred in supplying the service.
2. Most service providers do not have well-defined and proper computerized or automated systems to maintain financial records for gas billing.
3. The manual process of billing bring about arguments between customers and service providers,
4. there is no adequate record management system to aid in the accurate computation and updating of gas bill records.

This situation therefore warrants an automated gas billing system.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study is to develop an automated gas billing system that will help in maintaining record of customers' gas bill. The following are the specific objectives of the study:

1. To design a database system that will help maintain record of customers' gas bill
2. To implement a system that will accurately compute the gas bill of customers.
3. To design a system that will out-perform the manual way of recording and computing the gas bill of customers
4. To design a system to facilitate easy updating of gas bill records and presentation of gas bill reports.

1.4   Significance of the Project

The significance of the study is that it will facilitate accurate computation of gas bills and also aid the easy management of customers' gas bill records of God is Good gas company, it will aid in eliminating errors associated with the computation of gas bill and provide an instant means of updating gas billing records. The study will also serve as a useful reference material to other researchers seeking for information relating to the subject.

1.5 Scope of the Study

This study covers Automated Gas billing system, a case study of God is good gas company, Ikot Ekpene. It is limited to keeping of gas bill records.

1.6 Organization of the Research

This research work is organized into five chapters. Chapter one is concerned with the introduction of the research study and it presents the preliminaries, theoretical background, statement of the problem, aim and objectives of the study, significance of the study, scope of the study, organization of the research and definition of terms.

Chapter two focuses on the literature review, the contributions of other scholars on the subject matter is discussed.

Chapter three is concerned with the system analysis and design. It presents the research methodology used in the development of the system, it analyzes the present system to identify the problems and provides information on the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed system. The system design is also presented in this chapter.

Chapter four presents the system implementation and documentation, the choice of programming language, analysis of modules, choice of programming language and system requirements for implementation.

Chapter five focuses on the summary, constraints of the study, conclusion and recommendations are provided in this chapter based on the study carried out.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Bill - A written statement of how much money is owed for items purchased or services provided.

Gas - A substance that is neither a solid nor a liquid at ordinary temperatures and has the ability to expand infinitely

Database - A systematically arranged collection of computer data, structured so that it can be automatically retrieved or manipulated.

SMART - Self Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology

System - A collection of related parts working together to achieve a particular goal.

Revenue - Money that comes into business from the sales of goods or services

Tariff - A list of fees, fares or other prices charged by a business