Setting up physical meters – Scaler

Purpose of this article

This article explains how to set up physical meters in Scaler, including required meter details, monitoring methods, meter versioning, and how to add consumption data correctly.

What is a physical meter

A physical meter represents a direct measurement source for consumption data.

This includes:

Utility meters

Submeters

Invoice-based consumption

Operator- or hauler-provided measurements

Physical meters are used when consumption is measured or reported directly, even if the source is an invoice rather than hardware.

Physical meters are the only meter type that accepts direct consumption entry.

Before you begin

Before setting up meters in Scaler, gather the following information:

Required for all meters:

Unique meter identifier (you'll enter this as Meter ID). If automating consumption through a third party, you may want to use the same identifier,

Where the data comes from (Monitoring method)

What area the meter covers (Area type and Covered area)

How consumption will be recorded (Consumption format - as recordings or meter readings)

Who pays for the utility (Purchased by)

When the meter became active (Meter version start date)

May also be needed depending on meter type:

Source details (for electricity: grid vs renewable; for fuels: fuel type)

Indoor/outdoor split (for water meters serving mixed areas)

Waste type and disposal method (for waste meters)

Solar panel specifications (if estimating on-site generation)

Having this information ready will make meter setup much faster and reduce errors.

Ways to set up physical meters in Scaler

Physical meters can be created in Scaler using three methods. Choose the method that best fits your situation:

Method	Best for
Direct entry in platform	Setting up a few meters, making corrections, initial setup
Spreadsheet bulk upload	Creating many meters at once, uploading historical data
Data requests	Collecting data from external parties or stakeholders

Once meters are created, you can optionally automate consumption data entry through API integrations or utility bill scraping. See the section on automated data below.

Method 1: Direct entry in the Scaler platform

Creating the meter

Go to Data Collection Portal → Portfolio → Asset List → select asset → Meters & Consumption

Navigate to the desired resource and click Add meter.

Under Meter Details, complete all required fields (marked with a blue asterisk *).

Save the meter to close the edit drawer.

Adding consumption

Reopen the meter and go to the Meter Consumption tab.

Fill in the corresponding consumption fields. These vary based on your meter configuration.

If Consumption format = Consumption recording:

Consumption (the usage amount)

Start date

End date

If Consumption format = Meter reading , where Scaler will automatically calculate consumption from one reading to the next:

Reading (the meter reading value)

Reading date

For on-site solar meters:

Toggle Estimate using solar panel data under Meter Consumption if you want Scaler to calculate generation based on panel specifications

For waste meters using estimation:

Number of bins

Volume of bin

Fill %

To attach supporting documents (e.g. invoices or supplier documentation), click the paperclip icon to upload a file or link.

Choosing the correct monitoring method

Expand

When setting up a meter, select the monitoring method that reflects where the data comes from, not how reliable you believe it is.

Examples:

If data is downloaded automatically from a smart meter → Smart meter

If values are taken from a utility invoice → Invoice

If consumption is based on standard annual usage provided by a grid operator → SJV cluster

If values are calculated internally by your organisation → Estimation (client methodology)

Selecting the correct monitoring method ensures:

Accurate data reliability scoring

Correct treatment across ESG reporting frameworks

Clear audit trails

Using SJV and equivalent methodologies

SJV monitoring methods reflect a Dutch-specific approach to providing aggregated consumption data via grid operators. If you are reporting on assets outside the Netherlands, you should only select these options where a local equivalent methodology exists and serves a similar purpose (for example, standard annual consumption based on asset or connection characteristics rather than individual meter readings).

If no such equivalent exists, consumption values should be recorded using one of the estimation options that best reflects how the data was derived.

Method 2: Bulk upload via Scaler Spreadsheet

The Scaler Spreadsheet allows you to create multiple meters and upload consumption data efficiently. For a detailed guide, see: How to Use the Scaler Spreadsheet (Bulk Upload Guide)

Warning: The Scaler Spreadsheet acts as the source of truth: Deleting records from the spreadsheet will remove them permanently from the platform upon upload.

Download the spreadsheet

Go to Data Collection Portal → Portfolio → Asset List

Select the relevant assets and click Download in the hover action bar

Choose the applicable resource type (energy, water, or waste) and select the fields you need from the Meter Details and Consumption sections.

Note: Guidance on expected values for each field appears in rows 7, 8, and 9 of the spreadsheet.

Create meters in the spreadsheet

In the "Energy/Water/Waste Meters" sheet, add a new row and copy/paste:

Scaler asset ID

Client asset ID

Asset name

Complete these required Meter Detail fields:

Meter ID (must be unique)

Subcategory

Source

Area type

Monitoring method

Consumption format

Purchased by

Meter version start date

Fill out any conditionally required fields noted in row 9.

Add consumption in the spreadsheet

In the "Energy/Water/Waste Consumption" sheet, copy/paste:

Scaler asset ID

Client asset ID

Asset name

Meter ID

Enter the relevant consumption data based on Consumption format:

Consumption recording:

Consumption start date

Consumption end date

Consumption value

Meter reading:

Reading date

Meter reading

Upload the spreadsheet

Save the updated spreadsheet.

Return to the platform and click Upload.

Drag & drop or browse to select the file.

Scaler will confirm the number of assets updated.

5. If there are errors, Scaler will flag and highlight the fields that need correction.

Method 3: Data requests

The data request tool allows you to collect meter and consumption data from internal teams, external property managers, or other stakeholders.

Key features:

Contributors see only the specific fields you request

Data is validated before submission

You maintain control over what information is shared

For detailed instructions, see the Additional resources section below.

Understanding key meter fields

Monitoring method

The Monitoring method field indicates where your consumption data comes from. Select the option that reflects your actual data source, not how reliable you think it is.

Common monitoring methods:

Monitoring method	When to use	Actual vs. estimated	PCAF-aligned data reliability score
`Smart meter`	Data downloaded automatically from a smart meter	Actual	1.0
`Conventional meter`	Manual readings from a traditional meter	Actual	0.8
`Invoice`	Values taken from utility invoices	Actual	0.8
`SJV cluster` *	Standard annual usage from grid operator based on similar asset types (NL terminology, may be used more broadly if applicable)	Actual	0.6
`SJV postal code` *	Standard annual usage from grid operator based on postal code averages (NL terminology, may be used more broadly if applicable)	Estimated	0.4
`Estimation (client methodology)`	Values calculated internally by your organization	Estimated	0.2

Selecting the correct monitoring method ensures accurate data reliability scoring and correct treatment across ESG reporting frameworks.

*Using SJV and equivalent methodologies

SJV monitoring methods reflect a Dutch-specific approach to providing aggregated consumption data via grid operators. If you are reporting on assets outside the Netherlands, you should only select these options where a local equivalent methodology exists and serves a similar purpose (for example, standard annual consumption based on asset or connection characteristics rather than individual meter readings). If no such equivalent exists, consumption values should be recorded using one of the estimation options that best reflects how the data was derived.

Include in calculations

The Include in calculations toggle determines whether a meter participates in:

Aggregated metrics

Analytics

Reporting

Data coverage calculations

When to exclude meters:

Meters should be excluded from calculations (Include in calculations = FALSE) when:

They are included in a calculated meter with Calculation Method = Add for that meter (to avoid double counting)

You are collecting data but not ready to use it in reporting yet

The meter represents a subset that would create duplication

Important: Excluded meters:

Do not contribute to coverage, intensities, or reports

Can still feed into calculated meters

Remain visible in the platform and exports

Meter-level inclusion criteria

For a meter to be included in calculations:

The meter version must be active within the reporting period

Include in calculations = TRUE

Specifically:

Meter version start date must fall on or before the reporting period ends

Meter version end date must fall on or after the reporting period begins (or left blank)

Asset-level inclusion criteria

For an asset's meters to be included in calculations:

Owned since: Data is included from this date onward

Some reports (e.g., GRESB Asset Spreadsheet) have a manual option to ignore Owned since for like-for-like comparisons.

Active = TRUE

For GRESB reporting

Status = Standing Investment

Automated consumption data

Once meters are created in Scaler, consumption data can be automatically pulled in through:

API integrations with utility providers or energy management systems

Utility bill scraping services

Building management system (BMS) connections

Third-party data providers

Critical requirements:

Before automation can begin, meters must be:

Created manually in Scaler (using one of the three methods above)

Mapped to the corresponding external data source

Configured with matching data structures (Subcategory, Consumption format, etc.)

Once mapping is complete:

The Automated field is set to true

Manual editing of consumption values is locked

Consumption updates automatically from the source system

The meter continues to function normally for reporting and analytics

Meter versions

Meter versioning allows you to track changes to a meter's characteristics over time without creating an entirely new meter. This ensures continuity in reporting and analytics when a meter remains the same in the real world, but certain attributes change.

When a new meter version is triggered

A new meter version is created when you update any of these fields:

Source

Covered area

Monitoring method

Purchased by

Supplier

These fields describe how the meter is defined and interpreted, rather than the meter's physical existence.

Typical use case

Example scenario:

You have an electricity meter representing whole-building consumption. The meter itself doesn't change, but at the start of a new year you renew your energy contract and switch from conventional ("grey") electricity to renewable ("green") electricity.

In this case:

The meter still covers the same area

The Subcategory is unchanged

Consumption continuity should be preserved

However, the Source of the meter has changed. This is a clear case where you should create a new meter version rather than a new meter.

How to create or edit meter versions

When you edit a meter and change one of the triggering fields, Scaler displays a prompt with two options:

Edit the existing meter version

Select this when the change is a correction.

Use this if the original value was entered incorrectly

The updated value applies retroactively from the current meter version start date

No new version is created

Example: The meter was always renewable electricity, but was mistakenly entered as non-renewable.

Create a new meter version

Select this when the change reflects a real-world update.

A new meter version is created

You must enter a Meter version start date (the date the change took effect)

You can add comments to document why the new version was created

Historical meter versions remain unchanged

Example comment: "Energy contract renewed with supplier X to purchase renewable electricity."

Viewing meter version history

Each meter includes a Meter version selector in the top-right corner of the meter details view.

The latest version is selected by default

Use the dropdown to view previous versions

When viewing a past version, you can review or edit the meter details for that specific period

This allows you to audit changes over time and understand how meter definitions evolved.

Troubleshooting & common mistakes

Problem: Meter is not appearing in reports or analytics

Cause: Include in calculations is set to FALSE or asset-level criteria not met

Solution: Verify Include in calculations is TRUE and check asset Status, Active, and Owned since fields

Problem: Consumption periods are rejected during upload

Cause: Consumption periods overlap by more than 1 day

Solution: Adjust consumption period dates so they overlap by no more than 1 day within the same meter

Problem: Cannot find meter in dropdown when creating calculated meter

Cause: Subcategory or Consumption format mismatch

Solution: Ensure physical meter matches the calculated meter's Subcategory and Consumption format exactly

Problem: Automated meter is not pulling in consumption data

Cause: Meter not properly mapped to external data source

Solution: Verify meter mapping in API integration configuration and ensure field formats match

Problem: Covered area defaulting to unexpected value

Cause: No Covered area specified, so Scaler defaults to matching floor area type

Solution: Manually specify Covered area if different from the floor area value

Problem: Duplicate Meter ID error during upload

Cause: Meter ID must be unique across all meters

Solution: Check existing meters and assign a unique identifier

Additional resources

Meters & Consumption in Scaler: Overview

Setting up calculated meters

How to use the Scaler spreadsheet

Using the Data Request Tool

Setting up your API integration

Meter setup scenarios & examples