version: last updated: instructor-led training meter reading for field operations : 0.4 12-may-2014...

Version:

Last Updated:

Instructor-led Training

Meter Reading for Field Operations

: 0.4

12-May-2014

1 Copyright © ABC Energy Group. All Rights Reserved.

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Introduce yourself to the class. If someone made a movie of your life would it be a

drama, a comedy, a romantic comedy, action film, or science fiction?

If I could be anybody besides myself, I would be… Describe yourself in one word.

Meter Reading for Field OperationsWelcome and Introductions



Housekeeping Items

Restroom Locations

Lunch and Breaks

Schedule

Expectations

Meter Reading for Field OperationsClassroom Logistics



Module Introduction

Introduction to Meter Reading

Meter Reading Components

Viewing Meter Reading History

Module Summary

Knowledge Assessment

Meter Reading for Field OperationsAgenda



This course explains the meter reading window, key components of meter reading, and the process of viewing and updating meter readings in Open-cIS.

Prior to completing this training, the following course is required:• Device Management Basics

Module IntroductionModule Overview

Total Course Duration: 2 Hours



The meter reading process has been enhanced to provide benefits for both the company and its customers. Some of the benefits are: Billing timeliness Reduction in billing exceptions Reduction in estimated bills Meter reading and billing accuracy Proactive approach for problem identification of meters

Module IntroductionBenefits of ICE



The positive impact the ICE initiative is bringing to the process of meter reading includes: Increased automation Decrease in manual work Standardized processes Reduced inbound calls to the call center

Module IntroductionWhat’s in it for me?



The following are key terms that will be used in this module.

Module IntroductionKey Terms

Term Definition

Estimated Reading It is a reading estimated based on actual past use, seasonal trends, and weather when actual meter reading is not available for billing a customer.

Meter Constant It is a fixed value which is used when converting meter readings to actual energy use. It is the ratio between instrument transformers and the meter.



Module Introduction




Module Summary





After completing this lesson, you will be able to: Describe meter reading Identify different methods of obtaining a meter reading

Introduction to Meter Reading Lesson Objectives



Introduction to Meter Reading Meter Reading: Introduction

Meter reading is the first step in the process of billing a customer. A customer is billed for usage based on the meter reading obtained for a period.

The Field Operations Employees visit the customer premise once a month to read the gas and/or electric meters.

When meter reading could not be obtained after many attempts by the Field Operations Employees, customers may also inform their meter readings to the company through telephone, email, company website, or meter reading postcards.

We will now go through a Web Based Training (WBT) to learn more about meter reading, methods of obtaining a meter reading, components of the Meter Reading window, and meter reading source codes.



Now it is time to access the Meter Reading for Field Operations WBT module located on the Learning Management System (LMS). This WBT will provide you with more information about meter reading, methods of obtaining a meter reading, components of the Meter Reading window, and meter reading source codes.

Introduction to Meter Reading Web Based Training (WBT)



Introduction to Meter Reading LMS Steps

Please follow the steps below to access the WBT module on LMS:Steps Tasks

1 Access the LMS.

2 Select the I Agree button.3 Select the Search button.4 Enter a portion of the course name in the Keyword text entry field.5 Press the Enter key on your keyboard.6 Locate the Available Courses heading.7 Locate the class titled: Meter Reading for Field Operations.

8 Select the View Info button.9 Locate the session you wish to attend .

10 Select the Register link.11 Click the Submit for Registration button.12 Click start/launch to view the module.


https://powernet.integrysgroup.com/HR_Learning/Pages/Learning%20Management%20System.aspx


Duration: 5 minutes

Description: Translate meter reading based on data in the card

Introduction to Meter Reading Activity: Translating the Meter Reading Card

You have received meter readings from different customers on meter reading postcards. Look at the postcards and translate the meter reading using the rules learnt in the WBT.



In which of the following situations an estimated reading will be used to bill a customer?

Select the option that applies.

a. An actual reading is obtained by the Field Operations Employees

b. A customer has informed the reading on the meter reading card

c. An actual reading could neither be obtained by the Field Operations Employees nor informed by the customer

d. A meter reading is obtained through the AMR device without physically visiting the premise

Introduction to Meter Reading Knowledge Check



You should now be able to: Describe meter reading Identify different methods of obtaining a meter reading

Introduction to Meter Reading Lesson Summary



Module Introduction




Module Summary





After completing this lesson, you will be able to: Perform the steps to enter meter reading in Open-cIS Explain the meter reading guidelines Describe meter constant

Meter Reading ComponentsLesson Objectives



Meter Reading ComponentsLet’s Discuss!

What information is required on the Meter Reading window while entering a meter reading in Open-cIS?

Placeholder for the Meter Reading window



Let’s watch the steps to enter a meter reading in Open-cIS.

Meter Reading ComponentsShow Me: Entering a Meter Reading

To view the steps of the process, click <OLE/ION link>.OLE/ION Image



Let’s now practice the steps to enter a meter reading in Open-cIS.

Meter Reading ComponentsTry It: Entering a Meter Reading




Meter Reading ComponentsLet’s Discuss! - Meter Reading Guidelines

Kelly Smith is a customer of the company. Field Operations Employees tried accessing her premise to obtain meter reading, but they could not gain access even after many

attempts. What action should be taken in this scenario?



Scenario 1: David, a customer lives in a far-off rural area. It not easy to reach his premise every month to obtain meter readings. What should be done to ensure that we get meter readings every month to bill David?

Scenario 2: Mark, a customer stays alone at his premise. He is in office on weekdays and his premise is locked every time Field Operations Employees visit him to note meter readings. How do we ensure that we get Mark’s meter readings in time for billing?

Scenario 3: Mary, a customer is going abroad. She wants to get utility service terminated at her premise permanently. What procedure should be followed to note meter readings at her premise for the final settlement of bill?

Meter Reading ComponentsLet’s Discuss! - Meter Reading Scenarios



What happens when the company is unable to gain access to read a meter at the end of a billing period?


a. The company generates a bill based on previous month’s meter reading

b. The company provides meter reading forms to the customer to send a reading, explain estimation and the ways of avoiding it in future

c. The company calls the customer to ask for meter readingd. The company shuts-off service at the premise

Meter Reading ComponentsKnowledge Check



Meter Reading ComponentsMeter Constant

Meter Constant is a fixed value which is used to convert meter readings to actual energy use when transformers are used in metering.

It is the ratio between instrument transformers and the meter. It is used as a multiplier of the difference between the last and current meter

readings to determine the actual energy usage. It is also used as a multiplier of the demand reading to determine the actual

demand.



Meter Reading ComponentsMeter Constant for Gas Meter

The gas meter constant is the amount of cubic feet of gas x 1,000 British Thermal Units (BTU) x meter constant (1.000) = number of therms of gas used.

Greater the operating gas pressure at the meter is, greater the meter constant will be due to the fact that there are more BTU’s packed into each cubic foot of gas.

A meter constant can be present on monthly billings for a large apartment complex, a residential, single-family home, or duplex.

Customers at times request for increased gas pressure at the meter. For example: In the areas that convert from Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to Natural Gas, customers request for increased gas pressure.



Meter Reading ComponentsMeter Constant for Electric Meter

Electric metered customer would have a meter constant when they have more than 400 amperes of load.

Transformers are used to step down voltage at the electric meter because a regular meter is not able to handle the load.

The measurement made by the meter represents only a fraction of the actual energy used. That fraction must be multiplied by the meter constant value to arrive at an accurate value for the customer's actual energy use.



What is meter constant?


a. A fixed amount paid by a customer every month for meter installation at the premise

b. A fixed amount of energy usage recorded by a meter at a premise

c. A fixed value which is used to convert actual energy usage into meter readings

d. A fixed value which is used to convert meter readings into actual energy usage

Meter Reading ComponentsKnowledge Check



You should now be able to: Perform the steps to enter meter reading in Open-cIS Explain the meter reading guidelines Describe meter constant


Lesson Summary



Module Introduction




Module Summary





After completing this lesson, you will be able to: Identify information contained in the Meter Reading History window Explain changes in the Meter Reading History window Perform the steps to view meter reading history in Open-cIS

Viewing Meter Reading HistoryLesson Objectives



Viewing Meter Reading HistoryMeter Reading History Overview

Viewing meter reading history allows users to view details about the last meter reading, such as date, reading, usage, source, and reason .

Date and time when reading

was taken Meter readingUsage

Meter reading source

Meter reading reason



Let’s go to the Online Encyclopedia (OLE)/ION and the steps to view meter reading history in Open-cIS.

Viewing Meter Reading HistoryOLE: Viewing Meter Reading History

To view the steps of the process, click <OLE/ION link>.

Placeholder for OLE/ION image



You can practice the steps to view meter reading history in Open-cIS. To access the training environment, click the Training Environment link.

Viewing Meter Reading HistoryOpen-cIS Practice: Viewing Meter Reading History


Placeholder for

Training

Environment/Open

-cIS Image



You should now be able to: Identify information contained in the Meter Reading History window Explain changes in the Meter Reading History window Perform the steps to view meter reading history in Open-cIS

Viewing Meter Reading HistoryLesson Summary



Module Introduction




Module Summary





You have completed the Meter Reading for Field Operations module. Let us now review the key points that you learned in this module. Meter reading is the first step in the process of billing a customer. A

customer is billed for usage based on the meter reading obtained for a period.

Customers may inform meter readings if readings could not be obtained by the Meter Reading Employees even after many attempts.

If actual reading could not be obtained for a period by any possible methods, the customer is billed on the basis of estimated readings for that period.

Meter Constant is a fixed value which is used to convert meter readings to actual energy use when transformers are used in metering.

Meter Reading for Field OperationsModule Summary



Module Introduction




Module Summary





Welcome to the Module Assessment. The assessment comprises a set of 10 questions. You will get one attempt to

answer each question. After you attempt a question, you will move to the next question automatically.

To complete the assessment successfully, you need to score 70%. If you are unable to score the required percentage, you will get another attempt. If you cannot get the score at the second attempt, you will be directed to contact your Trainer or Leader to get further instructions.

Remember, you will receive the credit for course completion only if you complete the assessment successfully.

Good luck!

Meter Reading for Field OperationsModule Assessment



version: last updated: instructor-led training meter reading for field operations : 0.4 12-may-2014...

Documents

introduction meter reading

actual meter reading

training meter reading

process of meter

meter readings

meter constantit

estimated bills meter

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