In this article, we’ll go over the features of the EMS platform cost screen.
Contents of this article:
- Introduction
- Available frequencies
- Available energy sources
- Requirements
- How does it work?
- Data Display
- Exporting data
- Monthly Bills
- Tips and tricks
Introduction
The Cost feature allows us to visualise how much money are our devices costing us, or how much we are saving during a particular period.
The cost shows us how much money our devices are costing us, or how much we are saving, during a particular period.
Available frequencies
The available frequencies in this screen are the ones that you have configured in the Preferences section of the Platform (Settings --> Preferences).
It can go from 5min to monthly.
Available energy sources
The available energy sources by default are electricity, Gas and Water. However, these are all the available sources with the consumption parameter associated:
- Electricity - 402
- Gas - 420
- Water - 901
- Thermal (heating) - 802
- Exported energy - 452
The limitation of the energy sources relies on the capacity of adding Supplies and Prices to the energy source in the EMS platform.
Remember that you can easily activate new Energy Sources (that have cost) going to Settings -> Preferences.
* In case you want to check the cost of an energy source that is not currently available, email our Support Team: support.energy@spacewellcom
Requirements
In order to see data in the Consumption screen you need a few things first:
- Send data to the platform with, at least, hourly frequency, as it's the minimum frequency required to have cost.
- Accept the devices and datapoints generated when the data gets into the platform.
- Assign those devices to its corresponding location.
- Configure the Supplies and Prices in the Settings section.
- Assign the Supplies and Prices to the devices in Settings --> Locations --> Assign supplies and prices
In the case of groups
- Create the group in the corresponding location.
- Add the 30min frequency to the group, so that this frequency is calculated.
- Configure the Supplies and Prices in the Settings section.
- Assign the Supplies and Prices to the devices in Settings --> Locations --> Assign supplies and prices
How does it work?
- Select the energy source that you want to analyse.
- Select the device or group that you want to analyse.
- Select the period that you want to visualise the cost for.
- Choose the data frequency.
- Click on update.
If you want to normalize consumption you can apply ratios.
Data display
The platform allows you to select or unselect cost periods and Energy to modify the visualization of the graph, in the bottom-left corner of the graph.
On the other hand, the summary table allows you to check in detail the energy cost (total and by period). You can always compare the results to previous periods.
Visualise a Simulated Contract
With the option “Simulate with” you will be able to check the cost associated with a period using a different tariff structure, in order to compare and analyse other supplies.
A new summary table will appear to be able to compare both contracts and help you decide which one works better in your case, indicating also how much will your cost decrease if you change the contract to the simulated one.
Exporting data
The data from the screen can be exported in 3 different ways:
- As an Excel File
- As a picture (only in the case of the chart)
- As a Custom report block, both graph and table. For more information, click here.
Monthly Bills
This option exists for those locations that have reactive penalty. You can find access to it in a button in the top right corner of the Cost screen (Analyse-->Analysis-->Cost).
Once inside, it shows how the cost of one month is divided in Consumption, Contracted Power, Excess Power, Excess Reactive and others.
Tips and tricks
1. Zoom
2. Change cost units
You can change the visualization of the Cost Units (€, GBP...) in Settings --> Supplies and Prices --> Contract --> Currency.
3. Change the Currency placement
By default, the currency placement is after the cost. However, you can change that on Settings --> Preferences --> Currency placement.
4. The period labels are now displayed
Now you visualise your custom period label names instead of the default period name, so that you can see which period it is more clearly.
You can change the custom name on Settings --> Supplies and prices --> Contract.