The Billing Read Export Specification describes the columns and rows contained in the billing read output of BEACON. When Billing Reads are exported using the Actions drop-down menu on the Monitor page, a CSV-format spreadsheet file is created. These Billing Read Export files always include the Account IDs, Location IDs, Service Point IDs, Meter IDs, Endpoint IDs and tamper codes along with read data and the read times for up to 100,000 meters per export. Use filters to select registers to include in a Data Export. If more than 100,000 registers are selected, only the first 100,000 records will be exported.
When using the BEACON Data Export Service API to make Billing Read calls, use Cycle, Route and District filters to schedule exports of up to 100,000 records.
The following table describes the Billing Read Export file contents:
| Column Name | Max Length | Format | Description |
| Account_ID | 32 | Text | Identifier of the Account used for billing purposes. |
| Location_ID | 40 | Text | Unique identifier for the location where the service is being provided |
| Service_Point_ID | 40 | Text | An identifier used to distinguish between multiple service hookups at the same Location. The combination of Location ID and Service Point ID represents a single point to which a meter is to be attached. |
| Meter_ID | 24 | Text | Identifier of the meter. It must be unique and is required. |
| Register_Number | 1 | Text, L, 0, H, 2, or Blank | Register Number is used to identify if a meter is a single or compound meter. |
| Endpoint_SN | 20 | Text | Serial number of the endpoint paired with the specified meter |
| Read_Method | 7 | Text | A word indicating how the meter reading was obtained, either AMR, Fixed, Manual, Network or n/a. |
| Read | 9 | Number | The current meter reading available within the time period requested when the file was submitted to BEACON. | Read_Unit | 8 | Text | Unit that the meter measures in. (GAL, CUBIC_FEET, CUBIC_METER, LITER, AF, OIL_BARREL, FLUID_BARREL) | Billing_Read | 9 | Number | The current meter reading set to the resolution expected from Billing. |
| Billing_Read_Unit | 12 | Text | Units used for the Billing Read. This value is set using pulldown menus on Assets>Utility Settings>Billing Units. One of: GAL, CUBIC_FEET, CF, CCF, KGAL, CUBIC_METER, LITER, IMP, AF, OIL_BARREL, FLUID_BARREL. |
| Encoder_Read | 9 | Number | Raw Reading from a meter without Register Resolution or Billing Resolution applied. |
| Read_Time | 22 | YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss | Date and time of the current read. (2014-09-10 10:39:41) |
| Service_Point_Timezone | 64 | US/Pacific, etc. | Name of the timezone where the service/meter is located.
For a list of timezone names see: wikipedia.org/wiki/ If timezone is not provided, the timezone associated with the utility specified via BEACON will be used. |
| Tamper_Code | 7 | Text | A code in AMR reads from ORION CE, ORION ME and ORION SE endpoints that represents endpoint exceptions such as: Endpoint Tamper (T), Reverse Flow (R), Leak (L), Endpoint Communication Error/Device Alert (D), Endpoint No Usage (U), Endpoint Cover Removed (C) , Meter Empty Pipe (P), Endpoint Low Battery (A), Endpoint Reverse Flow (R), Endpoint Programmed (O). |
Billing Read Export Mapping
Use this table to create a spreadsheet to map Billing Read Export fields to corresponding fields in your billing or Customer Information System (CIS). If a given BEACON field cannot be mapped, mark it as N/A and include the reasons in this spreadsheet.
| Bill Read Fill Description | Customer CIS Field Name | Customer CIS Field Description |
| Account_ID | ||
| Location_ID | ||
| Service_Point_ID | ||
| Meter_ID | ||
| Register_Number | ||
| Endpoint_SN | ||
| Read_Method | ||
| Billing_Read | ||
| Billing_Read_Unit | ||
| Encoder_Read | ||
| Read_Time | ||
| Service_Point_Timezone | ||
| Tamper_Code |
Previously, the Read column was called Current_Read, Billing_Read_Unit was called Current_Read_Units and Read_Time was Current_Read_Time.Encoder_Read and Service_Point_Timezone are additions to the output file.
| Last Update | What Changed | What You Need to Do |
| March 29, 2018 | Updated the Read_Method field to reflect current export file content. | If desired, revise column names and incorporate the Read_Method in your interface. |
| September 29, 2017 | Updated column names to reflect current export file content. | Map Billing Export Read fields to fields in your CIS database. If desired, revise column names and incorporate Encoder_Read and Service_Point_Timezone in your interface. |
| February 29, 2016 | First Post | Map Billing Export Read fields to fields in your CIS database. |
