Commercial and industrial focus

For the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector, IEE focuses on complex metering with readings and interval data retrieved through remote interrogation, handheld, and fixed network Automated Meter Reading (ClosedAMR) collection systems. The IEE overall process includes system configuration steps as well as steps to prepare for daily processing, along with automated and manual tasks that occur each day.

The collection of utility meter data through the use of ERT modules that are connected to the meters, eliminating the need for field service representatives to physically inspect and read the meters. Additionally, ERT modules monitor and record related information such as meter tampering data.

Configuration steps include the following:

  • System Settings. Set up security, such as users, User roles, and workgroups, and establish general criteria, such as holiday schedules and printers, used in IEE processing, such as time-of-use.

  • Validation Parameters. Set up validation rules and sets for interval data validation.

  • Named Formulas. Define reusable formulas for calculations (such as losses).

  • Customer Configuration. Set up customers, accounts, service points, service point channels, meters, recording devices and communications parameters. Customer Configuration in Meter Data Management is typically used for smaller numbers of customers.

    Note: For large-scale customer configurations, Itron recommends using either the flat file Customer Configuration XML API or the Task XML (Web Services) API. This process may include setting up service point channels that define data resulting from calculation. For more information, refer to the Itron Enterprise Edition Reference Guides and API Guides.

  • Task Templates. Set up task templates for imports, exports, scheduled reports, and remote interrogations tasks.

  • Schedules. Set up schedules for remote interrogation (when using Service Mode), aggregation, exports, and reports.

Daily processing steps include the following:

  • Customer Configuration Update Process. Includes add/change/exchange/remove functionality to maintain customer configurations.

  • Data Collection and Import Process. Supports the receipt of reading and event data from collection systems based on remote interrogations or the receipt of scheduled files.

  • Verification Process. Supports load data verification, data editing (as necessary), and data reporting.

  • Data Export Process. Performs tasks to format exports and send data to external systems based on export schedules.