Sunday 23 August 2015

Save On Cost With Automated Meter Reading Billing Software

By Nancy Gardner


This can be referred to as the technology of mechanically collecting data related to consumption, status and diagnostic from automated devices such as water gauge and energy indicators, this data is then transmitted to central computer or database for trouble shooting and analyzing. The technology has been vastly used to save users the cost of having to travel to specific location to get meter readings. Automated meter reading billing software data is transmitted real time rather instead of using estimations and past data which may not convey accurate information.

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.

Another type of indicator reader is mobile mostly known as drive by. This type of gauge is attached to motor vehicles. This indicator reader directs the car while the installed gauge reading device collects the reading automatically. Satellite based transmitters can be fixed next to already existing meters.

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.

The software scans the database serial number and when they match it saves the readings to be downloaded later. Transmission of data back to the central computer can also be done through use of infrared data transmission port.

There exist other advanced that call for special indicators and hardware, these are touch and read where the reader uses a wand to touch the meter and it records automatically. The other one is radio and read where signal is sent directly to wand or laptop and it records meter reading.

Some companies dealing in software have the capacity to read energy meter for purposes of management and billing. This software performs functions such as energy management and billing, configuring energy meters and enables web access.

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.

There are a few limitations with this system though, the first one is that utility can sometimes limit the amount apportioned to users, some programs are limited to certain geographical area hence shutting off some users, there is privacy invasion, the system can be hacked into as it is being transmitted, it minimizes reliability and promotes information redundancy.




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