Data issues

There is an issue with the meter or the data logger 

• The meter / data logger can stop communicating
  • For example, the data logger will stop sending readings when the battery has no charge
• The data logger can get out-of-sync with the meter reads

There is an issue with the data report that we receive

• This is typically caused by a communications problem between the meter data collector and the energy supplier. 

The meter has switched suppliers

• Unless a school has a SMETS2 meter fitted, the data feed will be interrupted if a school switches suppliers
• It’s important to inform us of any supplier changes ahead of time. This will mean that we can request access to the data from your new supplier when you switch. Sometimes, if requests aren’t submitted promptly, it’s not possible for the new supplier to recover the historic data since the switch

The Letter of Authority (LOA) has expired

• LOAs are typically valid for three years. Once they expire, your supplier will remove data access unless we can provide them with a new one 
• Energy Sparks will request a new LOA shortly before the expiry data of the old LOA. Please ensure you share a new LOA promptly to avoid any disruption

The Letter of Authority (LOA) is no longer valid

• Suppliers need to hold a Letter of Authority from the account holder. Depending on how your school purchases its energy, the account could be in the name of the school, Multi-Academy Trust, Local Authority or, less commonly, Private Finance Initiative (PFI) provider
• If your school switches contracts but remains with the same supplier (e.g. switching from a school contract to a Multi-Academy Trust contract) we may need to request a new Letter of Authority to maintain data access

The data is estimated

• Some data providers will share estimated data. They do this for a couple of reasons:
  • There is an issue with the meter / data logger
  • The meter is located in an area with poor mobile phone signal. This can mean that it’s not possible to remotely connect to the meter. As a result, the meter is read manually every 2-4 weeks. The data is estimated until it is backfilled with actual data following a manually meter reading
• Some data providers will indicate if data is estimated on the data files we receive from them
• If the data provider doesn’t identify estimated data in their data files, there are a few indicators that we are receiving estimated data. This includes:
  • Unexpected large increases or decreases in usage
  • Erroneous zero usage
  • Very repetitive values 
• Energy Sparks will remove estimated data from a school’s account when it has been estimated for more than a month

Solar panels have been installed

• When a school has solar panels installed, Energy Sparks needs to add this to the school’s account setup. If this is not done, then we will be under-estimating the amount of electricity a school is using
• In order to add the solar panels to your school’s account, Energy Sparks needs to know the size of the solar array (in kWp.) We can estimate the size of the solar array using satellite images, however, if solar panels have been installed recently, the images may not show the panels on the roof yet 
• Therefore, it is important that you inform Energy Sparks when solar panels have been installed and confirm the size of the array (in kWp.) This information is usually on the MSC installation certificate. If you are struggling to find these details, please count the number of panels on the roof and let us know
• We will remove the electricity data from your school’s dashboard until we have the details in order to add the solar panels to your account

There are unexplained or unusual changes in usage

• Sometimes, we see large changes in consumption which don’t look correct
• This needs to be queried with your school to find out what has happened
  • For example, it is not uncommon to see large increases in electricity usage when schools carry out building works. This can be due to the use of heavy machinery
  • Sometimes, we see significant decreases in energy usage when buildings are decommissioned or demolished
  • Schools may change their heating system and switch from gas to alternative heating such as a biomass boiler or heat pump
• Please keep Energy Sparks updated about any changes to the school site. This is particularly important because we use floor area as the benchmark to compare your school’s gas usage with similar-sized schools so we need to keep the floor area up-to-date
• If the changes in consumption cannot be easily explained, then this might indicate a problem with the data. At this point, Energy Sparks may decide to remove the data from your school’s account until the issue is resolved