SP / Meter Installation
The system automatically updates the information on this page when field activities that affect a meter's installation status (i.e., installs, removes, on/offs) are completed via Field Activity Upload Staging. You should only have to change the information on this page when you need to fine-tune what the system sets up by default.
Open to update a meter's installation information.
Description of Page
The following information is displayed at the top of the page:
SP/Meter History This is a concatenation of meter and service point information. This information only appears after the SP/item history record exists on the database.
SP/Meter History ID This is a system-assigned random number that stays with a SP/meter history record for life. This value only appears after the SP/meter history record exists on the database.
The remaining fields are maintained on the remainder of this page.
Service Point ID is the ID of the service point at which the meter is installed.
SP Type Restrictions. The service point's SP Type controls whether or not a meter can be installed at the service point, and if so, what type of meter can be installed. Refer to Setting Up Service Point Types for more information.
Meter Configuration ID indirectly identifies the meter that is installed at the service point. A configuration may be associated with exactly one meter at any given point in time. Therefore, identifying the configuration also identifies the meter. Adjacent to the configuration ID is summary information about the configuration and the meter with which it is currently associated. This information consists of the description of the meter type of the meter, the meter's badge number, the effective date and time of the configuration, and the number of registers.
Use the Installation information to define the readings on the meter's register(s) when the meter is installed. To do this you must:
- Enter the installation Meter Read ID that shows how the meter's register(s) look at installation time. If you need to view or modify the read, click the context menu and transfer to the meter read.
The installation date and time of the meter is the installation meter read's date/time.
- Use Meter On/Off Status to define if the meter is turned on or off when it's INITIALLY installed. Valid values are On and Off. This status does not affect billing in any way. It is purely informational.
- Override the Installation Constant (i.e., set it to a value other than 1 ), if equipment is linked to this service point that affects the calculation of the constant used to manipulate the meter's consumption at billing time. It's important to be aware that this value is multiplied by the meter's registers' respective constants when billing determines the amount of consumption associated with a meter. Typically, only large industrial service points will have a value other than 1. Note that when you want to change the installation constant for a service point you must perform an 'office exchange'. This means that you should remove the current meter and reinstall it. On the new install, specify the new installation constant - this way billing will recognize the new constant and adjust the billable quantities correctly.
Default note. The Installation Constant defaults to a value of 1 for the first meter configuration installed at a service point. The installation constant for subsequent meter configurations is defaulted to the value of the latest meter configuration's installation constant.
Entering a meter configuration and install meter read is an important part of installing a meter at a service point. However, if the installation was done in order to activate a service agreement, you also must reference the install meter read as the start read on the respective service agreement / service point linkage. The system sets this linkage up for you if: a) the meter installation is done as part of a field activity, and b) the field activity is linked to the service agreement / service point linkage as its start activity. Refer to Starting Service & Field Activities for more information.
Use the Removal information to define the readings on the meter's registers when the meter is removed. To do this you must:
- Enter the removal Meter Read ID that shows how the meter's register(s) look at removal time. If you need to view or modify the read, click the context menu and transfer to the meter read.
The removal date and time of the meter is the removal meter read's date/time.
Entering a removal meter read is an important part of removing a meter. However, if the removal was done in order to stop service, you must also reference the removal meter read as the stop read on the respective service agreement / service point linkage. The system sets this linkage up for you if: a) the meter removal is done as part of a field activity, and b) the field activity is linked to the service agreement / service point linkage as its stop activity. Refer to Starting Service & Field Activities for more information.
- Stock Location only appears if the meter's meter type tracks location. Enter the stock location where the meter is stored upon removal. Refer to The Big Picture Of Asset Inventory for more information.
The Meter On/Off History grid contains the history of when the meter has been turned on and off while it's installed at a service point.
When a meter's on/off status changes, insert a new entry into the grid by clicking the + button. Then,
- Enter the On/Off Meter Read ID that shows how the meter's dials look when the status is changed. When this field is populated, the meter Read Date/Time appears adjacent to it.
- Use Meter On/Off Status to define if the meter is turned on or off. Valid values are On and Off.
A unique Sequence number is given to each entry after the information is saved.
The on/off status does not affect billing in any way. So, for example, if you turn a meter off and never expire the service agreement / service point link, the meter will still be amalgamated by billing (although it's consumption should be zero). This is intentional as many meters are turned off as part of the credit and collections process when a customer is delinquent (but the service point is still linked to the service agreement in case the customer pays up).