How to record a meter reading
Add meter reading is the form you get when you scan the QR code on a meter. It's built for mobile and for one job: read the meter and record the figure where you're standing.
The form needs no navigation in Properate. You scan the code, type the value and you're done.
How to record a reading
- Scan the QR code on the meter, or open the link you were sent.
- Check that the meter name at the top matches the meter you're standing at.
- Choose the date. The button shows Today when the date is today's; otherwise it shows the date.
- Choose the hour from the dropdown — from 00:00 to 23:00.
- Type the reading. The unit is shown in the field, so you don't have to work out whether it's kWh or m³.
- Click Add reading.
You get the confirmation Value {value} added. Back resets the form to today's date and time, ready for the next meter.
Note: The date and time default to now in the building's timezone — not the phone's. So the clock time you choose is the building's wall clock. That matters if you're reading a meter while in a different timezone.
The checks that catch typing errors
The form compares what you type against the previous reading and warns if something looks wrong:
Warning | When it appears |
|---|---|
The value is more than 10 times higher than the last datapoint ({previous}). | you've probably typed one digit too many |
The value is more than 10 times lower than the last datapoint ({previous}). | you've probably dropped a digit |
The value cannot be lower than the previous value ({previous}) for accumulated meters. | the meter counts upwards and can't go down |
The warning doesn't stop you. You're asked The value seems incorrect. {message} Submit it anyway? with Cancel and Yes.
If the reading is right — the meter has been replaced, or consumption really has changed sharply — answer Yes.
Cumulative reading or consumption?
This decides which check applies:
- An accumulated meter shows a cumulative reading — a number that only grows. Lower than the previous value is then impossible, and you get that warning.
- A non-accumulated meter shows consumption in the period. Lower than the previous value is then perfectly normal.
Note: If you back-date a reading, it's compared against the value that applied just before the moment you chose — not against the most recent one. That's the correct behaviour, but it means a warning can look unexpected when you're filling in old readings.
The messages you may meet
Message | Meaning |
|---|---|
Loading meter… | the form is fetching the meter |
Couldn't load meter: {meter} | the code points at a meter that doesn't exist, or you lack access |
Couldn't submit reading. Try again. | the submission didn't go through — use Back and retry |
Frequently asked questions
Which meters can I record against?
Manual meters only. Meters arriving from an integration update themselves and can't be written to here. See How to add an energy meter.
Where does the QR code come from?
The QR codes are produced by whoever administers Properate at your organization and stuck onto the meters. The generation itself happens outside the Properate app.
Can I fill in readings backwards in time?
Yes. Choose the date and hour in the form — you aren't tied to now.
Can I record several meters one after another?
Yes. After Value added, use Back and the form is ready again. For a different meter, scan its own code.
What if I record the wrong value?
The value can be corrected from the timeseries list in Properate — see How to find your way around the timeseries list.
Do I need to sign in?
You need access to the building the meter belongs to. Without it you get the error saying the meter couldn't be loaded.
Tip!
Read at the same moment every time — the 1st of the month at 08:00, say. Uneven intervals make consumption per period fluctuate on its own, and then there's no telling whether a change is real. The hour selector in the form exists precisely so you can hit the same moment even if you take the reading later in the day.