How to transmit electricity meter readings: a review of the best ways to transmit data for light

Every month, citizens permanently or temporarily residing in Russia receive bills for utility bills. Among them are receipts from an energy sales company that provides services to supply electricity to the population.

To pay the supplier, the owner of a private house or apartment must take readings from the electricity meter and submit them using one of the methods described below.

Controlling electricity consumption

Independent control over electricity metering devices was not always carried out. Until 2012, employees of the company supplying electricity would walk around their jurisdictions every month and take meter readings in order to then generate receipts and issue an invoice.

Now “communication” with the meter has become commonplace for homeowners. It is necessary to carry out a monthly procedure for taking and transmitting accurate electricity readings. In the same way, data is taken from cold/hot water meters and gas meters, the installation of which is not yet required.

Just 6 years ago, electricity users did not have to monitor the numbers flashing on the meter display. Their task was to pay the receipt on time

But Energosbyt employees retained the function of monitoring the performance of duties by residents. At least once every six months they check the metering devices to ensure that the readings are taken correctly. Usually the meters are located on the floor area, in the common apartment panel or in street boxinstalled at the line entry into a private house.

In private homes, instruments are installed in a metal box on the wall of the house or on a pole so that the inspector has access to the readings

If the shield is located inside an apartment or house, the owner must, upon request, let in a representative of the supplier company or the housing office. To prevent scammers from taking advantage of the opportunity to break into someone else’s apartment, you should check the documents with the inspectors or call the organization’s office.

Readings are taken monthly. If the data is not received on time, average amounts are accrued for payment within six months. After six months, the accepted standards are indicated on the receipt.

In case of suspicion of distortion of the electric meter readings, electricity suppliers have now begun to install antimagnetic seal. The article we recommend will familiarize you with the rules for attaching it and the features of its use.

How to take readings correctly?

All meters, regardless of brand, have an electronic display or plastic panel on which the numbers are clearly visible. They show how many kilowatt-hours the device has “wound” during its entire operation. The average number of digits is 6-7, but there are exceptions.

When writing off or memorizing numbers, you do not need to take into account the decimal places - these are tenths/hundredths of kW/h.To calculate the amount of electricity spent over the past month, it is necessary to subtract the previous ones from the current readings.

Then you need to multiply the result of the calculations by the cost of 1 kW/h.

Calculation example:

testimony April 25, 2018 – 4302 kW/h

testimony May 25, 2018 – 4452 kW/h

cost of 1 kW/h – 4.44 rubles

(4452 – 4302) x 4.44 = 150 x 4.44 = 666 rubles

Tariffs in different regions of the country, urban/rural areas differ, you can check them with the service company.

Photo instructions-hint:

What are the dangers of errors in data transmission over light? If a smaller number of kWh is incorrectly indicated, the difference can be made up in the next month. Overpayment is also not a big deal - you will have to pay less in the future. If the overpayment amount is large, you can write a request to recalculate and return the money.

Overview of data transfer methods

There are several ways homeowners can send current meter readings to their supplier or reseller. They are aimed at different groups of the population, but most of them are related to remote sending of data via telephone and Internet.

Thanks to the new schemes, queues have disappeared, and consumers have more time to deal with personal matters.

Option #1 – phone call

The most popular method is a telephone call to a call center or management company. All contact numbers by which you can reach operators or an answering machine are indicated on the receipt, where you can also find the opening hours of the organizations receiving calls.

To optimize the process of data reception, an answering machine is connected; the user only needs to follow its recommendations - press the corresponding numbers on the phone keypad or voice the readings. It only takes a few minutes to complete the procedure.

Considering that the call center's opening hours are usually from 8.00 to 20.00, you can choose the most suitable time and transfer data without haste. Some informants working in automatic mode are available around the clock

There is another way for those who are used to communicating with real people.To do this, you need to contact the operator and leave a statement, answering his questions.

In management companies, a separate employee is usually responsible for receiving data from metering devices. On certain days (for example, from the 22nd to the 25th), he receives calls and enters them into the Energosbyt program. Thus, representatives of the management company control the timely payment of bills by residents.

The advantages of telephone data transmission are convenience and time saving. During a call to the management company, you can transfer the data of all meters installed in the apartment.

On the other hand, consumers often find that the line is constantly busy and it takes a long time to get through. During voice messages, recording errors may occur if some values ​​are not conveyed clearly.

Option #2 – SMS message

For people who are used to quickly typing SMS messages on their phones, data transfer takes no more than 1 minute. The only difficulty is a certain text template. If you violate it, the message will either simply not reach you, or an error will occur in calculating the amount.

To transfer data you need to know the following data:

• telephone number of the organization taking the testimony;
• your personal account;
• current data taken from the electricity meter.

Some companies require you to enter a symbolic designation of the tariff at which payment is made.

A sample text message that needs to be dialed on the phone to transfer data from the meter. The personal account can be found in the receipt, the readings are the numbers from the device display to the decimal point

Sending SMS messages is a great solution for consumers who do not use the Internet. It is also convenient to send data as text to anyone who is away.The service is free, but money will be withdrawn from your phone account according to the tariff plan if there is no free SMS package. The advantage of this method is the ability to send data at any time of the day.

Option #3 – in your personal online account

Several virtual data transfer schemes have been developed specifically for active Internet users, one of them is implemented on the website of the supplier company.

But before you start transmitting electricity meter readings, you must register by entering your email. If you don't have a mailbox, you need to get one. After confirming your registration, you can go to the website, from where the readings are transmitted online.

Procedure:

• follow the link “transmit testimony”;
• enter personal data (client or personal account number);
• select a tariff or device account number;
• enter current data, while the indicators for the previous month will be displayed in the adjacent column.

Payment is calculated automatically, so you should carefully enter all numbers and, if necessary, spaces and other characters.

The advantage of registering on the site is access to additional useful information. You can study the advantages and disadvantages of various tariffs, find out news, and look at electricity consumption statistics

If you have any questions about payment, changing a meter or servicing, you can use the “Feedback” service.

Option #4 – via email

To send readings by email, it is enough to know the exact address of the organization supplying electricity. In addition, you need to remember the sending template, since mail is processed automatically.

The email message resembles the text typed for SMS: usually the personal account number and current meter readings are indicated.

Transferring data to an electronic mailbox is convenient for users who are accustomed to working in mail services and have to check their mail every day

You cannot enter extra characters or spaces. If the template is violated in any way, data processing becomes impossible, and the accrual for the current month will not correspond to reality.

Option #5 - in the VKontakte network group

Some of the most advanced companies have created their own groups on the VKontakte network - the most popular, covering the largest number of different social groups and representatives of all generations.

In addition to the service of transmitting readings, you can find there a lot of up-to-date information on payment, the use of electricity and metering devices.

Information on the group's pages is updated daily, with some news relating to general provisions, others to issues affecting individual areas

In the same group you can find useful links to the website of the supplier organization and other interesting information resources.

Option #6 – in the center of Energosbyt

This method is only suitable for city residents, since the company's offices are located where a large number of people live.

In provincial towns, they usually set up a single center for everyone, and in megacities, for ease of service, there are several offices in all large microdistricts.

You have to visit the office during interpayment periods and in cases when there is a change in electricity supplier. Sometimes it is useful to contact consultants to resolve controversial issues

The operator with whom direct communication takes place performs the same actions that a consumer could independently perform in his Personal Account on the Energosbyt website - he enters readings in certain columns in a special program.

Contacting a company that supplies electricity to the population is the most reliable way that exists. However, it has its drawback - you need to find free time to visit.

Option #7 – when paying with a plastic card

Not the most popular method, which many plastic card owners are not even aware of. In fact, with its help you can solve two problems at once: pay last month’s bills and transfer current data.

The transfer occurs during “communication” with the ATM. The device's computer contains a program that prompts you to enter readings. By following the instructions, you can quickly transfer the required information - meter data

If you get used to this scheme and remember to use it, you can save a lot of time, which is spent on trying to call the operator or filling out receipts.

Option #8 – data receiving box

In some regions, data collection is organized through a special box installed in a public place. Large boxes are installed directly on the floor, small ones - on the table.

It is not difficult to find out their purpose - the Energosbyt logo and a “talking” inscription are usually placed on the front side.

There are few boxes, so they can be found where there are large crowds of people: in large stores or shopping centers, at the post office, in Sberbank branches or Energosbyt offices

To send your testimony, you must fill out the stub of the receipt that arrived by mail, or enter the data in a special form. Then simply drop the piece of paper into the slot in the box.

This method is suitable for people who are far from the Internet and rarely use the phone - pensioners who are accustomed to doing things “the old fashioned way.”

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Video #1. Transfer of data on the Energosbyt website:

Video #2. An example of transmitting readings by phone:

Video #3. What to do if it’s difficult to get through:

Transferring metering data is the responsibility of all users of electrical energy. To ensure that the procedure is quick and hassle-free, you just need to choose the most convenient method.

The process of submitting readings on time and paying utility bills should become a habit, and then there will be no problems with the authorities that provide a comfortable life for homeowners.

Tell us how you transmit the data taken from the electricity meter? Share useful information on the topic of the article. Please leave comments, post photos and ask questions in the block below.