Meters, reads, AMR files and read exceptions
Adding meters, recording a read, loading a handheld or drive-by file, the checks every read goes through, accepting, rejecting or re-reading an exception, and exchanging a meter.
Meters
- Open CRM › Utilities › Utility Meters & Reads › Meters and press New.
- Enter the Serial and the Service, then Make, Model, Size and Unit (gal, ccf, m3, kWh, therm …).
- Multiplier: what each unit on the register stands for. Dials: how many digits the register has before it rolls over to zero.
- Read by: manual, amr (handheld or drive-by) or ami (the meter reports itself through an IoT device).
- Save. A meter is installed at a premise by Start service or by a meter install order, and its history is on Meter History.
Recording a read
- On a meter’s row: Record a read — the Reading, Read at (blank: now) and a Note.
- On Meter Reads: Record a read, naming the Meter serial.
- A read also arrives from an AMR file, an IoT device, a service order completed in the field, or the customer portal. Meter Reads shows every one with its Source, its use, whether it Rolled over, the Device and when it was billed.
Read Files (AMR)
- Open Read Files (AMR) and press Load a read file.
- Give a File name and paste the CSV, header row first: serial_no,read_at,reading — read_at as 2026-10-17T09:30:00Z.
- Load. Each line is checked on its own: the file’s row shows Lines, Recorded, Held (read exceptions), Already on file (duplicates, counted once) and Rejected, with the bad lines named.
serial_no,read_at,reading
<METER-SERIAL-1>,<2026-10-17T09:30:00Z>,<48213.4>
<METER-SERIAL-2>,<2026-10-17T09:34:00Z>,<10577>The checks every read goes through
| What was found | What happens |
|---|---|
| High or low use against the meter’s average (above or below the percentages in Utility Settings) | A read exception, held from billing. |
| No use at an active service | A read exception (zero consumption). |
| The register went down | If it went down from near the top of its dials by a plausible amount, it rolled over through zero: the read is good and the rollover is noted. Otherwise it is a read exception (negative). |
| The same read again | Counted as a duplicate and stored once. |
| A reading below zero | Refused: a reading cannot be negative. |
| No read at billing time | The use is estimated from the meter’s recent average, and the bill is held as an exception for somebody to look at. |
Read Exceptions
- Accept the read — say why it is right (a pool was filled, a leak was fixed). It is billed.
- Reject the read — say why. It is not billed.
- Ask for a re-read — a re-read service order is raised for the meter; the order is shown in the Re-read order column.
- Settled by names who decided.
Exchanging a meter, tests and routes
- On a meter’s row, Exchange this meter raises a meter exchange order: When, the Technician and Why. Completing it records the old meter’s final read, the New meter serial and its start read; Meter History keeps both.
- Meter Tests records bench and field accuracy tests: the Meter, Tested, Result (pass or fail), Accuracy % and By.
- Read Routes are the reading books: which premises, in what walk order, read how and by whom.