Hello there! We’ve been discussing CMP Usage Alerts over the past two parts of this series, and I threw in a curve ball in there at the end of part 2 by diving into another CMP system called Energy Manager. And I assigned “the big picture” homework to review the Energy Manager “Home” page. You didn’t know about Energy Manager? Well, I’m telling you me that it is awesome, almost awesome, could be awesome, maybe awesome, or not yet awesome. Really.
Energy Manager is the place you outta be, so they packed up their bags and moved to CMP, CMP’s website that is, CMP’s website to review your energy usage. Hillbillies.
Well the Energy Manager has dates, costs, usage data, graphs, and other shit stuff like that. Yeah, so if you want to monitor your usage, and leave out the alerts, then you can just visit the Energy Manager application. But for us here, we’re talking about both. And you know what? They should be “equal”. That is equal in the sense that the data on both should be able to be reconciled to be equal. Something like that. Hold that thought, let’s review the last screen shot from part 2. Here it is again for those who didn’t review it.
Just like before, let’s quickly go through the numbered circles.
- Energy Manager has four Menu Selections: Overview, Energy Usage, Ways to Save, and Home Energy Profile. Here we are on the Overview page.
- The most recent billed billing cycle date range is shown here. And you can navigate to prior billed cycles as well.
- The upcoming/current/ongoing billing data is shown here. When the end date is reached, a new bill cycle starts.
- The last seven days of most recent usage data is shown here. Recall that in part 2, I showed 7 snippets for 8/25 through 8/31. This block is where those snippets were captured from (I hovered over each dot on the line graph for the kilowatt-hour value to display for each date on the snippets). The author does not dispute the values in section 4 for the dates shown. The values for the applicable date range are noted here again: (15.6, 14.0, 15.5, 13.8, 19.4, 22.5, 15.5). What is disputed is how they are used, as we shall see.
- Energy Use shows Usage Data in more detail, including by year, billing cycle, and specific day. You can also get the same detail for Energy Cost. We’ll see that later as a surprise guest.
The other piece of info on the web page shows two house figures that compares you to the supposed average household. You don’t win any prizes for doing “better” than average, so we’ll just stick to our own data.
Ah, looks like someone in the back row has there hand up. Yeah, Mr. Flanagan, what’s up?
Mr Flanagan: “Per number 2 on the Overview page, I see that your last billing statement would be for July 25th through August 25th. Did you receive it? And, if so, were you happy with it?”
Well, funny you should bring that up. Yes I did receive my bill a few days ago, and as a matter of fact it was for July 25 through August 25.
It was under a hundred bucks. That is like only the second time in 30 years that I’ve had a bill that low. But we’re not talking about the bills as that has been covered by other people who are geniuses. However, Mr Flanagan you’ve hooked onto something, let’s see what that is. Too bad nobody read the “contact us” e-mails I sent over the years telling them about this. I feel so … nothing. Don’t feel anything at all.
Yeah, so ATM I don’t care how I did, I care how I’m doing. So let’s see what our estimated upcoming bill is. Ok, so it says that my upcoming bill is gonna be approximately $29.50 for 116kWh. Whoa Orville, can’t lift off yet, Wilbur still has an anchor hook in the sand at Kill Devil Hills. Wright?
Yes, Mr Flanagan?
Mr Flanagan: “Per number 3 on the Overview page, I see that the upcoming start date is 8/26 and the kWh is 116.”
And?
Mr Flanagan: “And, hmmm, and, oh, oh, oh, ahhh, I thought you said it was 8/25 and 117kWh. I’m thinking communication is the key to fixing things.”
Thanks for your input Mr Flanagan, you could have a bright future ahead of you.
Now Mr F is right! Seems the Usage Alert really should be telling me the usage as of 8/26 to match what Energy Manager is saying. Or is Energy Manager wrong? Yes. Both. I have my bill in hand for 7/25 through 8/25 so I know the upcoming bill is going to be based on 8/26.
Score 1 for Energy Manager here and a big goose egg for Usage Alerts.
Now, 116? If you recall earlier the summed usage was 116.3. Seems rational to round down, a la .5, here and use 116. But which one is right ? 116 or 117? Both are wrong.
Score goose eggs for both Energy Manager and Usage Alerts.
Yes, Mr Flanagan?
Mr Flanagan: “You’re never gonna please everyone all the time. Some people will complain until their dying breath. But, are you happy with your bill though?”
Ah, Mr Flanagan…. Anything else?
Mr Flanagan: “Sure, wouldn’t it be incorrect to add the kilowatt-hour value of 15.6 for 8/25 to the upcoming estimated total then?”
Well, well, well Mr F, you might just raise that D+ grade up a bit. And yes, that is absolutely correct. 15.6 should not be added because that value is from the last day, 8/25, of the previous bill. The total would then be 100.7, or 101 by either rounding method. So what we have here are at least two systems that don’t support each other. And I’m only talking about the measurement data.
So remember I said to hold that thought a while back? About Usage Alerts and Energy Manager should be “equal”. Well unhold that thought and think now. They’re not “equal”. What good is either system if even the smallest amount is wrong? How can we have confidence that the data we receive in either case is accurate? Kinda makes Stevie wonder.
Yes, Mr Flanagan?
Mr Flanagan: “So the bills are ok?”
Never said that.
(Note: Click here to go to Part 4 of this Series.)