Online electricity bill management system: A web application for an energy supplier company in Somalia

This thesis examines the design and development of an Online Electricity Bill Management System (OEBMS) using a structured Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodology, namely the Waterfall model. This framework simplifies the process of conceptualizing, constructing, and implementing the program. Clients can effectively handle their invoices by using the online application's user-friendly interface. By using automation in the billing process, the system effectively minimizes the need for human work and significantly decreases the occurrence of mistakes. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for paper-dependent activities, hence promoting the adoption of digital workflow. The primary objective of this thesis is to centralize the management of electrical data, including details about connections, power panels, and customer information. To accomplish this task, OEBMS utilizes machine learning methodologies such as regression models and random forests. To forecast future power consumption patterns, these models use previous data. As a result, the system may provide comprehensive reports that go beyond the mere presentation of fundamental billing data. It is considered the ability to create reports that predict potential increases in demand or discover consumer segments that show trends of shifting consumption. The system uses a MySQL server as the database management system, while an Apache web server hosts the web interface for user access. Another objective of this thesis is to tackle the inefficiencies and inaccuracies that arise from human bill computations and paper-based procedures. The OEBMS aims to automate these operations to improve efficiency and accuracy.