source: main/eko-disco-specs/trunk/infos.txt @ 10584

2013-08-22 ---------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Henrik,

 I am very sure Issoufou in the past and Hector more recently have told you
 about the Eko Electricity Distribution Company. We are expected to make a
 presentation to them perhaps in the coming week regarding a solution for
 customer information management.

 Here are the key challenges they have:
 1) Because they have just bought an old public utility company, they need
 to do an capture and audit customer data. They are not likely to want to
 depend on the inherited customer database.

 2) Customers electricity consumption readings are to be updated every
 month

 3) Customer tariff payments are to be captured as well

 4) All the usual statistical overviews and summary for administrative
 purposes

 The main concern however is capturing accurate and realistic customer data
 by:

 1) Having customers come online to submit their detail or update existing
 records.

 2) Have their staff capture the data with a pda app that update the
 customer database or whatever other realistic method that can be used.

 Ultimately, when the customer database is up to date, then customers
 should be able to:

 1) View and update their personal information.

 2) View their electricity consumption reading and bill for every month (if
 possible their should be a calculator that every customer can use to
 personally calculate their bill based on consumption readings).

 3) Make tariff payments

 4) Print payment receipts which will contain details about consumption
 reading, billing period etc.


2013-08-24 ---------------------------------------------------------------


Comment(by gbenga):

 Replying to [comment:3 henrik]:
 > > 2) Customers electricity consumption readings are to be updated every
 month
 >
 > Please explain how this will be achieved. You may recall my email of
 March 30 where I asked:
 >
 > Who is reading the meters

 The power company staff

 >how often do they read meters and how do we get the meter data?

 There are 2 kinds of meters i.e:

 1)Digital Meters: Do not require any reading or monitoring as consumption
 is prepaid and the prepaid credit on an account gives an idea of the
 consumption pattern.

 2)Analogue meters: Consumption is post-paid and so meter readings have to
 be taken monthly to arrive at the appropriate customer bill for the month
 in view.

 >I my opinion we also need a user interface for the gas meter readers.
 This could be a simple smartphone web interface where they can login and
 enter meter readings. Alternatively, we could deveolop a smartphone applet
 which scans the barcode of the meter, makes a picture of the meter
 reading, which is then uploaded to the CIMS. Nobody will be able to enter
 wrong meter readings.
 >

 The smart phone applet will be a near perfect solution as it implies no
 one can cheat.

 > > 2) Have their staff capture the data with a pda app that update the
 customer database or whatever other realistic method that can be used.
 >
 > Do you mean the customer base data like name, address ...? How are they
 supposed to cature these data? Or do you mean the meter readings?
 >

 We are open to any workable solution. However, currently they go from
 place to place taking readings with a pen and paper. This system is
 however, highly prone to abuse.

 > > So, will you prepare the functional specification document for us?
 >
 > Yes, we'll do.
 >
 > Regards,
 >
 > Henrik


2013-08-24 ---------------------------------------------------------------