8.29.2015

Save On Cost With Automated Meter Reading Billing Software

By Nancy Gardner


This is a technology that is widely used by power suppliers, water suppliers and gas suppliers to manage their power and water consumption and also help them to determine their production levels or optimal production levels. They involve automated data collection, reading status gauge and diagnostic of meters from these automated gadgets. The data collected has to be sent back to a central station for editing, trouble shooting and billing. The technology has enable the user to save on cost since they no longer have to travel to individual locations to be able to get the reading. Automated meter reading billing software is linked to database and it constantly updates the master file.

There many electronic devices that are used to collect and transmit data to a central computer. The first one is handheld electronic device which has an inbuilt computer with a transceiver to gather meter reading. This can be called walk by because the reader has to physically walk to gauge location as they pass through or follow their route.

The first type is the handheld device which is a computerized gadget used record the gauge status and transmitting the data back to central station for analyzing. There is a host computer that uses various software to manipulate data into useful information.

The satellite automated reader will be in touch with installed indicator so as to get the readings, readings are then sent through mobile satellite or fixed network. Narrow band and spread spectrum are mostly used technologies for automated reading for meters.

Another way of data transmission is through the use of power line. This method enables electronic data to be sent through power line to a nearby substation, and then the substation transmits the data back to the central computer located in main office. This is a fixed network.

Automated meter hosting is an office remedy which enables the user to monitor closely his or her water or gas consumption from the comfort of their homes through the use of internet. Such system uses data which is collected and transmitted on real time basis and is managed in a database by software for data acquisition. The users only have to log in into the service providers website and view the information. Data from web application can be analyzed by use of analyzing tariffs, charting profiles and utility bill.

This technology allows for extra service work whereby gauge readers can be able to process more than a hundred different orders and also supporting other functions such as disconnections, upgrades, collection of data, removes and transmission of information. This improves workers productivity by processing many orders within a short period of time, enhances satisfaction by customers with accurate and fast billing.

This system removes tedious and long procedures for of collecting and sending data to main office for processing. This consolidates the whole process, maximize a firm return on investment, and facilitate division of labor in the firm and to quickly and easily come up with routes through interaction with already existing customer information and systems for billing.

This is not to mean that it does not support a single fixed rate for individual users. Demand billing and time billing are not handled by this program. Automated billing software can perform data logging as well and it advisable for energy providers to consider using them.




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