How to add an energy meter
Most meters in Properate arrive automatically from an integration. If you have a meter that isn't connected — a reading you take yourself, or figures somebody sends you — you register it as a manual meter and enter the values yourself.
Meters are added from Timeseries.
You need write access to add meters. With read access the button is greyed out.
How to add an energy meter
- Open the building you want to work on. See How to switch building and search for a building.
- Go to Timeseries in the sidebar.
- Click Add or modify meter and choose Add energy meter.
- In the Select energy meter dialog, fill in:
- Description — required. This is the name the meter gets.
- Unit — required, kWh for example.
- Click Next.
- Enter the meter readings. See the section below.
The meter is now registered, and it can be picked in the energy view under Selected meter.
Note: The order is fixed: the meter has to be registered before you can enter values. The dialog says so itself — Register a meter before entering a manual timeseries in Properate. Add datapoints for the new meter on the next page.
How to paste values from a spreadsheet
The quickest way to enter a series of readings:
- Create a spreadsheet in Excel or a similar tool.
- Fill out two columns: date in column A and measurements in column B.
- Select and copy the two columns with Ctrl+C / ⌘C.
- Paste using the button in the dialog, or directly into the dialog with Ctrl+V / ⌘V.
If Properate can't interpret what you pasted, the message says Couldn't interpret the pasted data and asks you to enter the values in the form instead.
If the browser refuses clipboard access, the message says The browser cannot access your clipboard — use the keyboard shortcuts rather than the button.
How to enter values manually
In the form you fill in Date/time and Value for each point. Use Add datapoint for a new row and Remove datapoint to take one away.
How to change a meter later
Click Add or modify meter and choose Modify existing meters. You can also add or remove datapoints from the timeseries list.
How to record readings from your phone
If the meter has a QR code, readings can be recorded without going into Properate — see How to record a meter reading.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add a meter that already exists in the building automation?
No, and you shouldn't. Meters from an integration arrive on their own. Register one manually on top of that and you end up with two meters for the same consumption, and the totals go wrong.
What if I pick the wrong unit?
The unit belongs to the meter, so values are interpreted against it. Enter cubic metres under a meter set to kWh and every figure is wrong — fix the unit before entering more data.
Can I enter historical values?
Yes. The date you give determines where the point lands, so you can fill in backwards in time.
How do I add a water or waste meter?
Same menu, different options: Add water meter and Add waste meter. See How to add a water meter and How to add a waste meter.
Tip!
Write the Description so it says what the meter covers, not just what it is — "District heating, building B" helps in a year's time; "Meter 2" doesn't. The description is what you pick the meter by in every other view.