Reading Meters 

Use

This business process allows you to organize meter readings and enter meter reading results. Devices are either read periodically for periodic billing or aperiodically, such as for control meter readings and readings at the time of device replacement, removal, or disconnection.

Devices can also be read for a certain activity, such as a move-in or a removal. In these cases, the meter reading is initiated directly from the relevant process.

Prerequisites

Before you can start reading meters, you must have made the necessary scheduling settings and defined the meter reading forms.

Process Flow

 

The following process runs in SAP R/3 (SAP Utilities):

...

       1.      Create meter reading orders

In this step, you create the meter reading orders for registers, for which an interim meter reading is scheduled. You defined in scheduling whether the meter is read by a meter reader, by the customer or whether the reading is an estimate. If the meter reading is to be estimated, the system determines the expected meter reading during order creation and enters it in the meter reading order. The meter reading then becomes a meter reading result.

If order creation takes place for multiple registers (for example, multiple meter reading units), it is a mass order.

You can also create meter reading orders as single orders. Single orders are generally created for aperiodic billing. You might need to create single orders for interim and control billings, or if a meter reading unit is handed over to another utility company, for example. You can also create single orders for periodic billing if an order has to be created again due to a mistake, for example.

Meter reading orders are not created for flat-rate installations because these installations do not contain metering devices.

You can also create a service order or notification for aperiodic orders.

       2.      Issue meter reading orders

                            a.      Meter reading by meter reading

In this step, you can print out the meter reading documents for the meter reader or you can download them to an external system.

You download orders using a raw data interface (DRI). They can be in spool file format or in IDoc format.

You can use an RDI to transfer orders to external entry systems (such as MDE devices (mobile data entry) and document readers), or print them using external printing systems.

                            b.      Meter reading by customer

If the customer reads the meter, you can create a card for meter reading by the customer.

In both methods, the application form you use defines the data output. This allows you to output essentially all data in the system.

       3.      Enter meter reading results

In this step, you can enter meter readings for a large number of customers (from periodic billing, for example), for a single customer, or for a single contract. You can transfer meter reading results to the SAP IS-U system either manually or using an interface from an external entry system (upload).

You have the following options:

¡        Upload

You can transfer large amounts of data by IDoc interface or BAPI from an external entry system to the system.

¡        Fast entry

You can manually enter large amounts of data that arises for periodic meter readings without a mobile data entry device or a document reader. You can choose between fast entry with correction and fast entry without correction. If you choose fast entry without correction, it is not possible to make immediate changes to implausible meter readings.

¡        Single entry

You can enter individual meter reading results (for example, from control readings, interim readings, or final billing on move-out).

       4.      Estimate meter reading results

You can estimate meter reading results if no meter reading exists. The consumption values from the previous period are used as the basis for the estimation. If no consumption values exist for the previous period, the period consumption is used.

       5.      Correct meter reading results

In this step, you can correct meter reading results that did not pass validation. You can view details that resulted in the implausible result and the decide whether to generate a follow-up meter reading order, or whether the result should be released or estimated.

You can also correct plausible meter reading results if, for example, a customer has made a complaint regarding the bill and has provided a different meter reading.

       6.      Monitor meter reading results

You have many options for monitoring meter reading and entry. For example, you can track the number of meter reading results entered, implausible meter reading results, or meter reading results to be billed.

Result

You have entered and, if necessary, corrected meter reading results. In the next step, you can bill the meter reading results.