Managing billing requests and billing exports

  1. The billing system requests meter readings using one of the following methods:

    • Traditional route.

    • Schedule-based request interface format (Itron Integrator From Host, MV-RS Host Download, Premierplus4 MRI).

    • XML or custom-developed formats.

  2. IEE receives the reading request in the billing system's traditional format. The IEE import adapter parses the request into a standard format and saves it to the IEE database.

  3. IEE determines how to read each meter based on the primary collection system set for each meter.

  4. For each meter reading system operating in a request mode, such as handheld meter reading systems, IEE builds a new request file in the meter reading system's native format. The request file contains only the meters to be read by that system. IEE passes the request to that system.

    IEE does not send a request to systems that send readings on a continual basis automatically.

  5. Each meter reading system responds to IEE in its native response format for the meters that IEE was requested to read. IEE parses those responses from the individual meter reading systems and stores all the readings and associated information in one common database.

  6. IEE reviews the existing readings in its database for results that are within the allowable time window, based on the reading window for the schedule requested.

  7. IEE takes the billing readings received from the various meter reading systems and formats them into a route-based response file, in the billing system's expected response format (Itron Integrator From Host, MV-RS Host Download, Premierplus4 MRI) or through XML or custom-developed formats.

    Note: When multiple reads are available for a meter within the originally requested time window, configurable "best read" logic is used to select the appropriate reading to return to billing. Multiple reads may exist as a result of multiple systems reading the same meter or of readings that are more frequent than the billing schedule.

  8. IEE delivers the packaged response file to the billing system as if it came from a single meter reading system.