Reading validation

Reading validation is an essential component of meter data management. The goal is to achieve a high degree of confidence that meter data accurately reflects actual energy usage.

Reading validation uses mathematical analysis to determine if raw interval and register data falls within accepted tolerances. These tolerances are configured during initial IEE implementation and can be modified by IEE administrators.

If the data does not fall within accepted tolerances, IEE provides several methods for correcting the data, such as automated estimation, manual estimation, and data editing.

Reading validation is an essential component of meter data management because it identifies problems and allows you to correct those problems before the data is stored in the database. For example, a typical reading validation process identifies the following problems:

• Gaps in data

• High or low consumption or demand peaks

• Interval data that does not match the corresponding register channel data

• Suspicious usage patterns, such as current consumption that deviates significantly from historical consumption

• Warnings from the meter or indications that an event such as a power outage has occurred

Unreliable data cannot support billing, load research, forecasting, planning, or asset analysis.

Related topics:

• Which readings are validated?

• Estimation as part of reading validation

• Validation data flow

• Configure reading validation