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  3. Configuring and Updating Meters

How do I create a meter?

What are electricity, gas and water meters and why do we use them?

In order to input utility data (electricity, water, gas and heat/stream) into Rio, meters need to be created and assigned to a location. Electricity, gas and water meters are used to measure how much of a certain utility is consumed/emitted at a specific location.  A 'location' within Rio can have multiple 'meters' associated to it.

When naming a meter we recommend you use a name that reflects the location and type of meter for ease of filtering within the tables and dashboards.

To add a meter you will need to define what type of meter you are going to add from the drop down list from the 'Meters' option in 'Account Configuration'.  Once a meter type has been created the meter will then need to be associated to a specific location:

A unique 'Meter code' can also be associated to a specific meter:

  • An Electricity meter may have a unique MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) associated  to it, sometimes called an Electricity Supply Number.
  • A Gas meter may have a unique MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number)
  • A Water meter may have a unique SPID (Supply Point ID)

Further non-mandatory information can be associated to a meter that provide details of the 'Meter Supplier' (this is usually the supplier of the utility/meter type), or the MOP (Meter Operator), this may not be your utility provider.

Water meters

Water meter can be classified as either ‘Water In’ or ‘Water Out’:

  • ‘Water In’ meters should be utilised for inbound supplied water. The carbon conversion factor for ‘Water In’ will use the Defra ‘Water Supply’ carbon conversion factors
  • ‘Water Out’ meters should be utilised for wastewater that is subsequently treated. ‘Water Out’ will use the ‘Water Treatment’ carbon conversion factors

Rio does allow a water meter to be classified as both a ‘Water In’ and a ‘Water Out’ location. In this instance Rio makes the assumption that any water supplied will ultimately be disposed of and treated. This is achieved by Rio automatically populating the ‘Water Out (m3)’ with the same figure that is used for the ‘Water In (m3)’.

Classifying a water meter as both ‘Water In’ and ‘Water Out’ should only be used where the user has no associated ‘Water Out’ meters and where it is assumed any water supplied will ultimately be disposed of and treated.