The Meters – Preferences page controls how Zero Friction validates meter readings before they are used for further processing, such as billing and reporting.
Here you configure validation rules that help to detect measurement errors at an early stage.
You can find this page via Configuration → Meters → Preferences.
These settings are important to:
to report incorrect meter readings
to prevent negative or illogical consumption values
detect errors before they affect invoices
What does this part show?
The Preferences page shows the available validation rules that you can enable or disable for meter data.
The following validation is currently available:
Negative consumption
Each validation can be activated or deactivated individually via a checkbox in the Enable Validation section.
Layout
Validation settings
The page consists of one clear section:
Validate on
Checkbox Negative consumption
Explanation of what the validation checks
Save button to apply changes
When no validations are configured, an empty status is shown and the system performs no checks.
Behaviors & Logic
Validation on negative consumption
When Negative consumption is enabled:
The system compares each new meter reading with:
the previous measurement
and, if available, the next measurement from the same meter register
The system calculates consumption as the difference between two consecutive readings
If the calculated consumption is negative, this is considered a validation problem
Example
Previous reading: 1,000 kWh
New reading: 950 kWh
Calculated consumption: -50 kWh
Result: validation problem Negative consumption
Scope of application
The validation only applies to meters with a utility type, such as electricity, gas or water.
Meters with utility type None are not validated
When is validation performed?
Validation is performed automatically when:
new meter readings are imported
meter readings are added manually
existing meter readings are changed
Changes to preferences:
are directly applicable to new or modified measurements
do not lead to revalidation of existing, unchanged measurements
Where do validation issues appear?
When validation detects a problem, a meter problem is created. This is visible on:
Dashboard – overview of all open issues
Meters → Problems – list of all meter problems
Meter detail page → Problems – problems per specific meter
Feature dependency
To perform validations, the Metering Validation feature must be active for your organization.
This feature is managed via Configuration → General → Features
If the feature is disabled:
validations are not performed
even if they are enabled in these preferences
Problem | Solution |
No validations visible | Check if the Metering Validation feature is active |
Validation not working | Check feature, permissions and whether validation is enabled |
Meter with utility type "None" | These meters are not validated |
Existing error remains visible | Existing problems do not disappear automatically |
Why don't I see any validation rules?
The Metering Validation feature may not be enabled or all validations may be disabled by default.
Why is a negative measurement not blocked?
Validation signals the problem, but does not automatically prevent storage of the measurement.
What happens if I disable validation?
New measurements will no longer be checked for that type of problem; existing issues will remain visible.
Can I use multiple validations at once?
Yes. Multiple validations can be active simultaneously (depending on availability).
What should I do if I have a negative consumption problem?
Check that:
the meter reading has been entered correctly
the meter has been replaced or reset
a correction or manual solution is needed
Consumption – Amount of energy, gas or water used between two meter readings
Meter Reading – A recorded total meter reading at a specific point in time
Meter Problem – Deviation detected by validation
Validation Rule – Setting that determines what type of issue is checked
Utility Type – Metering type, such as electricity, gas, water, or none