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Smart Meter Reads

Meter Reading Cycles - User Story Document

1. Problem Statement

Meter Reading Supervisor Pain Points:

  • Cannot efficiently track the status and progress of multiple read cycles across different routes
  • Lacks visibility into performance metrics for individual routes and specific meters
  • No clear options to retry failed reads or resolve issues promptly
  • Has limited ability to identify and address common failure patterns in the reading process
  • Cannot easily monitor the distribution of successful, failed, and pending readings
  • Struggles to meet cycle completion deadlines due to limited tracking capabilities

Core Problem: The current meter reading management system lacks comprehensive tracking and performance monitoring capabilities for smart meter readings, resulting in inefficient reading collections, delayed cycle completions, and quality control issues across the utility service areas. Without proper visibility into cycle performance and route status, the Meter Reading Supervisor cannot effectively manage the meter reading operation, leading to billing delays and potential revenue loss.

2. Who Are the Users Facing the Problem?

Meter Reading Supervisor:

  • Responsible for overseeing meter reading operations across multiple routes
  • Manages reading schedules aligned with billing cycles
  • Monitors reading performance and coordinates exception handling
  • Reports on reading completion rates and efficiency metrics
  • Ensures timely data collection for billing processing

The Meter Reading Cycles feature should be accessible to the Meter Reading Supervisor role and potentially to other management roles that need visibility into meter reading operations.

3. Jobs To Be Done

For Meter Reading Supervisor: When I need to monitor the progress of multiple meter reading cycles across different routes, But I lack a consolidated view of cycle statuses and completion rates, Help me track all active and completed cycles with detailed performance metrics, So that I can ensure timely completion of readings for billing cycles.

For Meter Reading Supervisor: When I need to identify and resolve failed meter readings, But I cannot easily see which meters have failed and why, Help me view categorized failure reasons with options to retry failed readings, So that I can improve reading success rates and address systematic issues.

For Meter Reading Supervisor: When I need to report on meter reading performance, But I don't have access to comprehensive metrics and visualizations, Help me access detailed analytics on read success rates, completion percentages, and average read times, So that I can identify opportunities for improvement and report accurately to management.

For Meter Reading Supervisor: When I need to investigate specific meter issues within a cycle, But I cannot easily search for and access individual meter data, Help me search and filter meter records with detailed status information, So that I can quickly address customer inquiries and technical issues.

4. Solution

The Meter Reading Cycles feature provides a comprehensive dashboard and management system for tracking, analyzing, and improving the performance of smart meter reading operations. The solution includes:

Cycle Monitoring Capabilities

  • Cycle Overview Dashboard: Real-time dashboard showing active cycles, completion rates, and key performance indicators
  • Cycle Status Tracking: Visual indicators of cycle status (In Progress, Completed) with progress percentages
  • Cycle Timeline Management: Clear display of cycle dates including last run, next run, and due dates

Route Management

  • Route Performance Visualization: Graphical representation of route completion status across different areas
  • Route Comparison: Ability to compare performance metrics across different routes
  • Geographical Distribution: Visualization of reading success rates by geographical area

Reading Status Tracking

  • Status Distribution Analytics: Visual breakdown of reading statuses (Success, Failed, Pending)
  • Failure Analysis: Categorization and quantification of failure reasons (Timeout, Connection Error, Device Offline)
  • Trend Analysis: Historical performance data to identify patterns and improvements

Meter-Level Management

  • Detailed Meter Records: Comprehensive view of individual meter statuses and reading data
  • Failure Resolution Tools: Options to retry failed readings directly from the interface
  • Consumption Validation: Display of current and previous readings with consumption calculation

Search and Filter

  • Advanced Search Functionality: Ability to search cycles by name and meters by ID, consumer, or account
  • Multi-criteria Filtering: Filter meters by status (Success, Failed, Pending)
  • Export Capabilities: Export filtered data for reporting and analysis

Performance Analytics

  • Reading Time Metrics: Average read time tracking across cycles and routes
  • Completion Rate Monitoring: Percentage tracking of cycle completion
  • Resource Optimization Insights: Data to inform scheduling and resource allocation decisions

5. Major Steps Involved

Viewing Cycle Overview

  1. Navigate to the "Meter Reading Cycles" dashboard
  2. View the summary cards showing Active Cycles, Completion Rate, Completed Cycles, and Average Read Time
  3. Observe the cycle list displaying all cycles with their key metrics
  4. Use the search function to find specific cycles by name if needed
  5. Review cycle details including status, month, number of meters, completion percentage, and relevant dates

Monitoring Cycle Progress

  1. Identify cycles that require attention based on status, completion percentage, and due dates
  2. Click "View" on a specific cycle to access detailed information
  3. Review the cycle health overview showing read status distribution and route completion status
  4. Analyze the top failure reasons to understand common issues
  5. Monitor the progress bar indicating how many reads have been completed out of total reads

Managing Failed Readings

  1. On the cycle detail page, click on the "Failed Reads" tab to see all failed meters
  2. Review the list of failed meters with details on failure reasons
  3. Select one or multiple failed meters
  4. Click "Retry Failed" to attempt to read the selected meters again
  5. Monitor the status change of retried meters

Investigating Individual Meters

  1. Use the search function to find a specific meter by ID, consumer, or account
  2. Apply status filters (All, Success, Failed, Pending) to narrow down results
  3. Click on a meter record to view full details
  4. Review the meter's reading history, current status, and consumption data
  5. Take appropriate action based on the meter's status (e.g., retry failed readings)

Analyzing Route Performance

  1. Navigate to the "By Route" tab on the cycle detail page
  2. Review the comparative route completion status chart
  3. Identify routes with lower completion rates
  4. Investigate potential causes for underperforming routes
  5. Plan interventions to improve performance on problematic routes

Exporting Data for Reporting

  1. Apply desired filters to the meter list
  2. Click the "Export" button
  3. Select the export format and options
  4. Download the exported file
  5. Use the data for reporting or further analysis

6. Flow Diagram

flowchart TD
    A[Navigate to Meter Reading Cycles] --> B[View Cycles Dashboard]
    B --> C{Select Action}
    C --> D[View Specific Cycle]
    C --> E[Search for Cycle]
    C --> F[Filter Cycles]
    
    D --> G[View Cycle Health Overview]
    G --> H{Select Section}
    H --> I[Read Status Distribution]
    H --> J[Route Completion Status]
    H --> K[Top Failure Reasons]
    
    D --> L[View Meter List]
    L --> M{Select Meter Action}
    M --> N[Search Meters]
    M --> O[Filter by Status]
    M --> P[Export Data]
    M --> Q[View Meter Details]
    
    L --> R[Manage Failed Meters]
    R --> S[Select Failed Meters]
    S --> T[Retry Failed Readings]
    T --> U[Update Status]
    
    G --> V[View By Route Analysis]
    G --> W[View By Meter Type Analysis]

7. Business Rules

Cycle Management Rules

  1. Each meter reading cycle must be associated with a specific route and month
  2. Cycles can have one of the following statuses: "In Progress" or "Completed"
  3. A cycle is considered "Completed" when 100% of its meters have been successfully read
  4. The completion rate is calculated as: (Number of successful reads / Total number of meters) * 100
  5. The average read time is calculated across all successful readings in all cycles
  6. Cycles must have scheduled due dates that align with billing cycle requirements
  7. The system must maintain history of last run date and time for each cycle

Reading Status Rules

  1. Each meter reading attempt must result in one of three statuses: Success, Failed, or Pending
  2. A reading is "Pending" when no reading attempt has been made or the attempt is still in progress
  3. A reading is "Failed" when an attempt was made but was unsuccessful
  4. A reading is "Success" when data was successfully retrieved from the meter
  5. For failed readings, the system must capture and categorize the failure reason
  6. Common failure categories include: Timeout, Connection Error, Device Offline, and others
  7. The system must track the total number of meters in each status category

Retry Management Rules

  1. Failed readings can be retried individually or in batches
  2. When a reading is retried, its status remains "Failed" until a successful read is achieved
  3. The system must maintain a history of retry attempts
  4. After a successful retry, the reading status should update to "Success"
  5. The system should allow for multiple retry attempts if needed

Consumption Calculation Rules

  1. Consumption is calculated as: Current Read - Last Read
  2. Negative consumption values should be flagged for validation
  3. The system must display both the current read value and the previous read value
  4. Unusual consumption patterns should be highlighted for review

Data Validation Rules

  1. Reading values must be numeric and within expected ranges for the meter type
  2. The current reading should be greater than or equal to the last reading, with exceptions for meter resets
  3. Reading timestamps must be chronologically valid
  4. Meter IDs must correspond to valid meters in the system
  5. Consumer information must be linked to valid accounts

Access Control Rules

  1. Meter Reading Supervisors must have full access to all cycle and meter data
  2. The ability to retry failed readings should be restricted to authorized personnel
  3. Export functionality should be available to users with reporting permissions

8. Sample Data

Meter Reading Cycles

Cycle NameStatusMonthConsumersMetersCompletionLast RunDue DateApril Cycle - Route WestIn ProgressApril06,00075%Apr 01, 2025Apr 15, 2025April Cycle - Route EastCompletedApril04,200100%Apr 05, 2025Apr 12, 2025April Cycle - Route NorthIn ProgressApril05,50040%Apr 10, 2025Apr 20, 2025April Cycle - Route SouthCompletedApril03,800100%Apr 03, 2025Apr 10, 2025April Cycle - Route CentralIn ProgressApril07,20021%Apr 12, 2025Apr 25, 2025

Meter Data

Meter IDConsumerPremise IDLocationLast ReadCurrent ReadConsumptionStatusMTR100000Alice Brown (ACC200000)PRE300000East > Residential > Block D92.33110.8718.54SuccessMTR100001Olivia Rodriguez (ACC200001)PRE300001East > Industrial > Block A32.6832.750.07FailedMTR100002John Rodriguez (ACC200002)PRE300002North > Commercial > Block D984.33990.205.87Pending

Failure Reasons

Failure ReasonNumber of MetersTimeout42Connection Error36Device Offline27Other Failures38Total Failed Meters143

9. Acceptance Criteria

  1. The system must display a dashboard showing key cycle metrics including active cycles, completion rate, completed cycles, and average read time
  2. The system must list all meter reading cycles with their status, month, meter count, completion percentage, last run date, and due date
  3. The system must provide a search function that allows users to find cycles by name
  4. The system must allow users to view detailed information for a specific cycle by clicking on the "View" action
  5. The cycle detail page must show a progress bar indicating the number of completed reads versus total reads
  6. The system must display a read status distribution chart showing the percentage of successful, failed, and pending readings
  7. The system must show a route completion status visualization comparing performance across different routes
  8. The system must list top failure reasons with the number of affected meters for each reason
  9. The system must provide tabs to filter meters by status (All, Success, Failed, Pending)
  10. The system must include a search function to find specific meters by ID, consumer, or account
  11. The system must display detailed meter information including meter ID, consumer, premise ID, location, last read, current read, consumption, and status
  12. The system must provide a "Retry Failed" button that allows users to retry readings for selected failed meters
  13. The system must include an export function that allows users to download meter data in various formats
  14. The system must update reading statuses in real-time when retry actions are performed
  15. The system must calculate and display consumption values based on the difference between current and last readings
  16. The system must clearly indicate cycle due dates and highlight cycles that are at risk of missing deadlines
  17. The system must provide navigation to view all cycles from any cycle detail page
  18. The system must display the scheduled and actual start times for each cycle
  19. The system must allow filtering and sorting of meters based on multiple criteria
  20. The system must highlight unusual consumption patterns for further investigation

10. Process Changes

Current ProcessNew ProcessImpactManual tracking of meter reading progress through spreadsheets or basic reportsReal-time dashboard showing cycle status, completion rates, and key metricsReduces tracking time by approximately 70% and provides up-to-date visibilityLimited visibility into reasons for failed readings, requiring extensive investigationCategorized failure reasons with counts and detailsImproves troubleshooting efficiency by 60% through targeted problem resolutionSeparate systems for viewing cycle status and individual meter issuesIntegrated view from cycle overview down to individual meter detailsReduces context switching by 80% and improves investigation efficiencyManual process for retrying failed readings through field visits or separate systemsDirect "Retry Failed" functionality from the dashboardDecreases resolution time for failed readings by 50% through automated retry capabilityStatic reports requiring manual creation and distributionInteractive dashboards with export functionalityReduces reporting time by 75% and improves data accuracyRoute performance analysis requiring manual data compilationBuilt-in route comparison visualizationsEnables data-driven route optimization and performance improvementReactive approach to cycle completion issuesProactive monitoring with clear due dates and completion trackingImproves on-time cycle completion rates by 40%Isolated meter data requiring multiple lookupsComprehensive meter details with consumption calculationReduces time to access complete meter information by 65%

11. Impact from Solving This Problem

MetricImpactCycle Completion TimelinessImproves by 30-40% through better tracking and proactive issue resolutionReading Success RateIncreases from current levels to 95%+ through better failure managementOperational EfficiencyReduces time spent on monitoring and troubleshooting by 60-70%Data Quality for BillingImproves accuracy and completeness of meter data for billing purposesResource AllocationEnables better scheduling and focus on problematic areasRevenue AssuranceReduces unbilled consumption through better read completion ratesStaff ProductivityIncreases meters managed per staff member through better tools and visibilityCustomer SatisfactionImproves through more accurate billing and faster issue resolutionAnalytics CapabilityEnables data-driven decision making for meter reading operations

12. User Behavior Tracking

Events to Track

EventPropertiesInsightsQuestions AnsweredCycle Viewcycle_id, cycle_name, timestampUnderstanding which cycles require the most attentionWhich cycles are being monitored most frequently?Meter Searchsearch_term, results_count, timestampIdentifying common search patternsWhat meters/consumers are frequently investigated?Status Filter Appliedfilter_type, count_results, timestampUnderstanding distribution of attentionHow much time is spent on failed vs. successful readings?Retry Actionmeter_ids, count, success_rate, timestampMeasuring retry effectivenessWhat is the success rate of retry attempts?Export Datafilter_applied, record_count, timestampUnderstanding reporting needsWhat data is being exported and how frequently?Route Performance Viewroute_name, completion_rate, timestampTracking focus on routesWhich routes require the most management attention?Failure Analysis Viewfailure_type, meter_count, timestampUnderstanding problem prioritizationWhat types of failures are being investigated most?Dashboard Load Timeload_time, user_id, timestampMeasuring system performanceIs the system performing adequately for users?Session Durationstart_time, end_time, actions_takenUnderstanding engagementHow much time do supervisors spend in the system daily?Feature Usage Frequencyfeature_name, count, timestampIdentifying valuable featuresWhich features are most/least used in the system?

Metrics to Monitor

  1. Cycle Completion Rate Over Time
    • Measures: Percentage improvement in cycle completion rates
    • Question: Is the new system improving overall completion performance?
  2. Average Time to Resolve Failed Readings
    • Measures: Time between failure detection and successful retry
    • Question: Is the system enabling faster problem resolution?
  3. User Efficiency Metrics
    • Measures: Number of actions per resolved issue
    • Question: Is the system making users more efficient?
  4. Feature Adoption Rate
    • Measures: Percentage of available features being regularly used
    • Question: Are users taking advantage of all system capabilities?
  5. Reading Success Rate Trends
    • Measures: Percentage of successful readings over time
    • Question: Is the system improving the overall success rate?

Wireframe

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