Consult these checklists before leaving to troubleshoot the meter. You can download an Excel version of these checklists at the link below: 

Contact List

Questionnaire 

Answer the following questions to determine whether you have the information and authorization necessary to troubleshoot the meter:

1. Meter location:
   1. What building/structure is the meter located in, on, or nearest to?
   2. If the meter is located inside of a building, what room is it located in? Note: Meters located in a building are usually found inside of a mechanical room.
   3. Can you describe the specific location of the meter? Include details such as the orientation of the wall/post on which the meter is mounted, the electrical panel ID with which the meter is associated, whether the meter is in a separate enclosure or mounted within the panel itself, the approximate height of the meter, and helpful identifying visual details—include photos if available.
   4. Are any special tools needed to access the meter? For example, keys, proximity access cards, or alphanumeric codes are typically required to access mechanical rooms and enclosures. If the meter is located high up in an electrical panel, a ladder may be required for safe access.
2. Travel planning:
   1. How will you travel to the meter location?
   2. If the meter is located at a remote site, does your organization require you to obtain pre-travel authorization?
      1. Book any necessary flights, rental cars, and accommodations before you travel.
         1. If you are flying, consider whether any travel restrictions apply to items on your checklist. For example, a screwdriver longer than 7 in. must be checked; bear spray is not allowed (see the Transportation Security Administration’s What Can I Bring? webpage for additional information).
      2. If necessary, do you have a point of contact who will meet you at the travel destination?
   3. Where will you obtain the tools to troubleshoot the meter? When reviewing the Tool Checklist below, note whether you will obtain the tool from home, your office, or the meter location. 
3. Authorization, training, and tools:
   1. If the meter is located in a mechanical room, do you have authorization and tools necessary to enter the room? If not, contact the responsible facility owner/manager.
   2. Do you have the authorization, training, and tools necessary to open the meter enclosure? If not, contact an authorized electrician at the facility to assist you.
   3. Do you have authorization, training, and tools necessary to open an electrical panel and perform electrical work? If not, contact an authorized electrician at the facility to assist you.
   4. Do you have authorization, training, and tools necessary to open a server rack/cabinet and reconfigure network connections? If not, contact the responsible IT administrator at the facility to assist you.
   5. Do you have access credentials to log into the meter and the EMIS front-end client software? If not, contact the EMIS administrator.
   6. Have you received the necessary safety training to perform other tasks related to meter troubleshooting? (E.g., ladder safety training). If not, contact your facility/organization’s occupational safety and health representative.
4. Connectivity:
   1. Will you need to use a network-connected device while troubleshooting the meter? If so, will one or more of the following options be available?
      1. Ethernet
      2. Wi-Fi
      3. Cellular connection
      4. Satellite connection
   2. Do you have authorization to take the network-connected device with you to the meter location? Personal devices may not be allowed in some spaces.
5. Personal safety:
   1. Is any personal protective equipment (PPE) required at the meter location? E.g., safety boots for a boiler plant or warehouse; hard hat, safety glasses, high-visibility vest for a construction site.
   2. What will the weather be like when you visit the meter location? Dress appropriately, particularly if the work must be conducted outdoors. Consider whether conditions may be icy, rainy, or hot.
   3. Are there any animal dangers at the meter location? Review relevant safety precautions for potential interactions with insects and wild animals (e.g., mosquitoes, ticks, wasps, bears). 

Tool Checklist

Refer to the following checklist to ensure that you have the necessary tools.

Meter Inventory Data Checklist

When inspecting a meter in the field, document as much of the following information as possible if it is available and not already recorded in an official meter inventory database. Take photos of the following to supplement this data:

• meter manufacturer
• meter model
• meter serial number
• date of meter manufacture
• date of meter installation
• firmware version
• meter device address(es) (e.g., MAC address, IP address, Modbus device address)
• meter communication protocol(s)
• connected communication port(s)
• meter location
  • building
  • room (if applicable)
  • description
  • electrical panel ID
  • circuit ID
• phase and wiring configuration
• analog inputs
• controller ID (if applicable)
• controller device address(es) (if applicable)
• brief description of loads metered
• any information on physical labels affixed to the meter or enclosure
• photos/videos (or link to directory path):
  • front entrance of building
  • hallway(s)
  • room entrance
  • meter enclosure on wall/post
    • include related items such as electrical panel
  • meter in enclosure
  • meter front, sides, back (if accessible)
• tools needed
• access permissions required to access facility and meter
• relevant points of contact
  • facility
  • meter location
  • meter owner (if applicable)
  • utility account number (if applicable)

Next: Connectivity Troubleshooting Decision Trees

Use following decision trees to walk through a connectivity troubleshooting process for your advanced electricity meter.