Overview meter points

Overview meter points

Also refer to:

To allocate measurements, you need to unambiguously identify every measuring point. For this purpose, the term 'meter point' is used in the liberalized electricity market. A meter point defines a definite measuring point in a distribution plan. What exactly is being measured depends on the respective measuring device and is then defined by the OBIS code system. Multimeters can measure several measuring parameters at the same time.

The consumer meter arrow system is used to define the transmission direction of the active energy. The consumer meter arrow system starts from the assumption that the client obtains energy (+A) from the superordinate network. This definition of consumption and supply is in accordance with the standard DIN EN 62053-52.

Each meter point has to be clearly assigned to a network operator. As the measurements in visual energy 4 projects are official as well as internal measurements, it is recommended to not only set up interurban and regional network operators but to also set up the project organization itself as a network operator. While interurban and regional network operators often have an official network operator number, you can assign an individual number to the project organization yourself. This number will be part of the meter point designation automatically.

For the meter point description, country and postal code are used as well.

The meter point description remains the same even when the energy provider is changed. In visual energy 4, a unique description is generated when the meter points for mobile and eBus measurements are set up. The measurement file designation can be specified by the user. For virtual or calculated measurements, the system assigns a unique meter point description.

Meter point type

Meter point type

In general, you can create four different types of meter points:

  • eBus meter point: You can select a device (not yet assigned) of the location assigned.
  • Reading meter point: The meter readings are captured manually or through a mobile reading system.
  • Calculated meter point: A virtually calculated meter point based on a mathematical formula.
  • File meter point: The monitored incoming directory awaits an MSCONS file with the meter point description.
     

Use the assistant to create new meter points (menu – new). You need to make the following entries:

Property Explanation
Name

You can select the name of the meter point freely. However, please keep in mind that the name should describe the meter point to third parties as clearly as possible, for example to an energy data manager.
Location

Is automatically defined by the location and cannot be changed. The country code automatically becomes part of the meter point description.
Network operator

Here, you can select one of the network operators assigned to the location. Please note that only network operators for the respective medium are listed. The network operator number automatically becomes part of the meter point description.
Zip code

Is automatically defined by the location and cannot be changed. The zip code automatically becomes part of the meter point description.
Meter point number This is a random 20-digit number. Please note that the meter point description has to be unique in general and for each project. If the meter point is an official measurement from an energy supplier, you have to use their number. The number automatically becomes part of the meter point description.
Meter number

A random meter number. Usually, this is the device number, which changes when a meter is replaced (for example). The meter number can also be used as a means of identification (barcode) during mobile readings.
State

Selection options:

  • Standard
  • Unknown
  • "Control" is used for parallel control measurements. This way, the measurement is prevented from being used in totals.
  • "Damaged" is used in case a measurement is temporarily unavailable and you want to prevent the system from creating an error message.
Bus device This serves the allocation of a meter point to a measuring device.
Meter point of the type 'reading'

Meter point of the type 'reading'

You can use this meter point for manual or mobile reading. The following entries are required:

Property Explanation
Digits

The number of digits (including decimals) of the counter to be read.
Decimals

The number of digits after the decimal separator.
Read sectors

Select the corresponding range from the list of the available read ranges.
Factor

The conversion factor for the actual consumption value.
Meter point of the type 'formula'

Meter point of the type 'formula'

This special type of meter point is available from release 3 of the version 4.5 on and is ideally suited to generate codes and characteristics. You can for example use it to mathematically process measurement series of existing meter points. The result is a new measurement series. You can use almost any mathematical formula. Whether the calculation is reasonable or not is up to the user. Make sure to always define an OBIS value for the meter point and to assign this value to the calculation result.

Example:

Input transformer 1 + Input Transformer 2

or

Output F02 * 0,75


Please note:

  • Calculated measurements cannot be assigned to the supply structure.
  • The system can only determine the unit and processing method of a calculated measurement once you have assigned a processable OBIS code to the calculated measurement.
     

Assign a meter point to the supply structure

Assign a meter point to the supply structure

In this step, you inform the system of the location of the meter points within the supply structure.

  1. Select a distribution within the project.
  2. Use the  Edit button to select the drawing object that should contain the meter point. The properties window is displayed.
  3. Select the corresponding entry from the 'Meter point' list. All meter points of the types 'eBus', 'Mobile' and 'File' are listed. To ensure plausibility, calculated measurements cannot be assigned within the structure. Save your settings.

Note

Please note that the meter point is processed according to the settings 'Type' (input/output) and 'Connection type' (energy provider / consumer / distribution, etc.). If the meter point is, e.g., a type 2 input of the energy provider connection type 1, the amounts are listed under energy provider consumption.