Estimating Meter Reads

Question on how estimated meter reads are calculated and setup.

• Munis

• UBCIS

• Bill Run

To set up a metered service to allow for Estimating a meter reading when one is not available first the Rate Master for the Charge Code has to be set up using the following fields in the Rate Mater.

1. Rate Master is created/populated during Charge Code set up or if the need to update a Rate Master arises it can be done in the location below

   1. Tyler Menu > Munis > Property Revenues > Utility Billing > Setup > Rate Masters

2. Search > Enter Charge Code and Rate Code if known or just Charge Code > Accept

3. Update

4. In the section titled Averaging fill in the following 3 sections

   1. Method – calculate average consumption using prior periods or prior identical periods enter P - Prior Cycles to average based on a certain number of prior cycles or S - Prior Identical Cycles to average based on a certain number of prior cycles that are identical.

5. #Per – number of prior or prior identical cycles to average enter the number of Cycles  to be used in the calculation of the estimated read.

6. Exclude High/Low - if any number is defined here, the highest and lowest usages (1 each) from the number of periods being reviewed will be excluded from the estimate.

7. Accept

Munis takes the takes the Daily Average Usage * number of cycle days to determine the estimate

Example: Prior Cycle Usage amounts for Cycles 1,2,3 are 40,35,35 and the usage days are 31,29,30 

Daily average usage  = (40 + 35 + 35) / (31 + 29 + 30) = 1.222

Current bill cycle days = 30

Usage Estimate = 1.22 * 30 = 37

Estimated Usage = 37

The following program support estimation calculations:

• Import Meter Readings and Import Third Party File programs – readings can be automatically estimated under a variety of circumstances, including based on an exception or reader code exception from an import file, or if the current reading provided from the import file is zero (the record exists in the file, but there is no reading).

• Current Read/Consumption – an estimate can be calculated for a given account/service

• Calculate Charges – any accounts that were simply excluded from the import file but are in the bill run may be estimated.