The Cyclical Meter Read Process

Most meter reads are recorded in the field by meter readers using handheld devices. These meter reads are uploaded into the system for use by billing. In this section, we provide an overview of how this cyclical process works:

• Every metered service point references a service cycle, route, and sequence within the route.
  • The service cycle controls WHEN the service point's meter is read.
  • A service cycle typically contains many routes. A route is a logical group of service points whose meters can be read by a meter reader on a given day.
  • A service point's sequence defines the order within a route that the service point is read.
• Every service cycle has a service cycle schedule that defines the dates on which the routes within a cycle are read.
• Shortly before the scheduled meter read date, the system creates a download file containing information to be sent to your handheld software. This download file contains information about every register on every meter in every route in the cycle being downloaded.
  Note: Overriding a route within a specific schedule. Rather than downloading all routes within a cycle, you can set up the system so that only specific routes are downloaded on any given date. This is a very powerful feature. You can use it, for example, to estimate specific cycles every other month or indicate the customer reads the meter every third month. Refer to Designing Service Cycles, Routes, And Schedules for more information.

• Your handheld software distributes this information to the handheld devices and then your meter readers do their job. When they finish, the resultant meter reads are uploaded into the system.