Creating projects

Note

For the tasks described in the following paragraphs, the user who is logged in requires project manager rights.

  1. Log in to visual energy 4 web.
  2. To open the project wizard, select System > Projects > Add new project.
  3. In the form, enter the project name (e.g. test project) and select the project language, project currency and the working days per week. If you want to, you can already select a medium as well.
  4. Complete your entries by clicking "Next" and create the project with "Complete". If you followed these steps correctly, a new project should be added to the project list.

Creating a visual energy 4 location

Note

You can create a new location in the wizard that is displayed after you have created a new project.
To do so, click on "Add a location to the project 'test project' ...".

  1. In the acquisition area, select your project and click on "Add location".
  2. Select a name, language and address for the location from the list of existing addresses or click <New> to add a new address. To do so, select a country / region / city from the list and enter the street or click <New> to add a new country, region or city to the list.
  3. Complete your entries by clicking <Next> and create the location by clicking <Complete>. The location should now appear under the corresponding project in the project list.

Creating a medium

With this step, a structure object for a medium at the location selected can be created. This has to be done for each location.

Creating a custom medium

  1. To create a custom medium, select "Custom Medium" in the configuration area of your project.
  2. Click on "Create Custom Medium", enter a name and select the OBIS group.
  3. Click on "Complete" to create the custom medium.

Creating a medium

 

  1. Select a location in the acquisition area of your project and click on "Add new medium" to open the wizard for new media.
  2. Select a previously created location ("Create location") for which you want to create a new medium.
  3. Select a previously created custom medium ("Create custom medium").
  4. Complete your entries by clicking <Next> and create the media by clicking on <Complete>. Repeat the process to create additional media.
Version 4.6 and higher

If you are using several completely separated supply structures at one location for a (basic) medium like water or gas, e.g. for different types of gas, you can define those as derived media.

Example:
You want to display two independent water networks (drinking water, graywater) at one location. For this purpose, set them up as custom media in the configuration area of the project. Choose "Water" as the basic medium for both. Thereby, these media will receive the OBIS codes as well as the processing rules, e.g. for the substitute value formation and structural data calculation from the medium water.

Creating the country, region and city

You can edit these parameters in the configuration area. Already set up after installation are the countries of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Also set up are the regions for Austria, Belgium and Germany. These regions are of particular importance when setting up a holiday calendar for tariff control later on.
You can add further entries at any time by clicking  Add You can also select an entry with the Select button and then edit it with the Edit button. However, deleting an entry by clicking Remove is only possible if all dependent entries have been deleted.

Creating an address

Each location needs an address that references the city, region and country. You can also use one address each for the network operator and energy provider. While it is mandatory to set up an address for a location, this is optional for the network operator and energy provider.

To add an address, proceed as follows:

  1. Log in as a project manager.
  2. Switch to the configuration area and click on "Addresses" in your project.
  3. Choose the "Addresses" entry.
  4. Click on the    button under the address list displayed in the work area.
  5. In the form displayed in the properties window, select the country, region and city and enter a street.
  6. Finish your entries by clicking the "Save" button.

Creating a network operator

Network operators are required for the assignment of meter points. Their network operator number is also needed to create meter point descriptions at a location.

In contrast to an energy provider, a network operator is assigned one or several cities. This way, all possible network operators for the respective medium can be automatically pre-selected when setting up a meter point at a location later on. However, this means that for the creation of a meter point, a network operator has to be set up and assigned to a medium first.

To add a network operator, proceed as follows:

  1. Log in as a project manager.
  2. Switch to the configuration area and click on "Network operator" in your project.
  3. Click on the button under the list of network operators displayed in the work area.

The network operator number is normally assigned by a central authority. In Germany, this is the BDEW, the German Association of Energy and Water Industries. Typically, users also operate an own internal network. The user also is a network and meter point operator in this case. Since you also have to enter descriptions for internal meter points, you have to add your company as a network operator as well. We recommend you use the number 999998 here.

Assigning a network operator

As described above, you have to assign a network operator for the corresponding medium of each city used as a location. Strictly speaking, you have to set up two network operators, since you will probably set up company internal measuring points. Your company is then considered a visual energy network operator as well. In this case, first create your company as a network operator with, e.g., the number 999999. You have to do this for each medium.

An assignment can be made for an entire country, region or city. If you, for example, operate 10 subsidies in North Rhine-Westphalia, it is easier to assign your company as the network operator to the entire region than to assign it to each city individually. Assignment is done as follows:

  1. Log in to visual energy 4 web as a project manager.
  2. Switch to the configuration area and click on "Countries" in your project.
  3. Choose the corresponding location by selecting the country, region and city.
  4. Select the desired network operator from the drop-down list in the properties window.
  5. Confirm your entries by clicking the "Assign" button.