The Benefits Of Automated Meter Reading Billing Software

By Nancy Gardner


This is a technology that is widely used by power suppliers, water suppliers and gas suppliers to manage their power and water consumption and also help them to determine their production levels or optimal production levels. They involve automated data collection, reading status gauge and diagnostic of meters from these automated gadgets. The data collected has to be sent back to a central station for editing, trouble shooting and billing. The technology has enable the user to save on cost since they no longer have to travel to individual locations to be able to get the reading. Automated meter reading billing software is linked to database and it constantly updates the master file.

This real time data which is then processed to produce meaningful information can be helpful to utility providers and their clients, this is because they can control production and consumption of gas usage and production, water consumption and production and consumption of electric energy.

Automatic reader technology for meters includes handheld, radio frequency, wireless and technologies that use network and lastly power line transmission. Back then these devices were viewed as expensive but today due to technology advancement and awareness most clients are embracing it because of it economical benefits.

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.

Automated meter hosting is an office remedy which enables the user to monitor closely his or her water or gas consumption from the comfort of their homes through the use of internet. Such system uses data which is collected and transmitted on real time basis and is managed in a database by software for data acquisition. The users only have to log in into the service providers website and view the information. Data from web application can be analyzed by use of analyzing tariffs, charting profiles and utility bill.

This technology allows for extra service work whereby gauge readers can be able to process more than a hundred different orders and also supporting other functions such as disconnections, upgrades, collection of data, removes and transmission of information. This improves workers productivity by processing many orders within a short period of time, enhances satisfaction by customers with accurate and fast billing.

This radio transceiver will send a signal to transmitter booting it up. The transceiver attached to gauge will send radio signal and receive the same. These transmitters can either transmit data one way or use continuous broadcast where the data is sent continuously as it occurs. There is a hybrid system that integrates both two way and one way technologies.

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.




About the Author:



  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

0 comments:

Post a Comment