Sigma Online User Manual

Creating an Unexpected Data Strategy

Unexpected data is defined as interval meter reading data that is now deemed as invalid as it has been received after a date where an asset on the energy estate is considered closed. Therefore, the channel should not be receiving any data (which may inaccurately be included in reports).

For example:

  • a periodic channel has been closed from a particular date, and data is still being received after that date
  • a periodic channel is associated to a Site which has been closed from a particular date, but data is still being received after that date

Creating an Unexpected Data Strategy

Creating the Strategy

  • From the Strategy Configuration Tab, click 
  • Choose the Strategy Type from the dropdown

         

  • Click OK to take you to the Monitoring Strategy Editor

Monitoring Strategy Details

The top section of the Monitoring Strategy Editor is common to all the different monitoring strategy types that can be setup.


The details that need to be entered are as follows:

FieldDefaultDetails
TypeN/A

The field is disabled and displays the Strategy Type being created

NameEmptyEnter a name  - mandatory
DescriptionEmptyEnter a description - mandatory
PriorityLow

Choose the importance of any notifications that are created against this strategy. Available options are:

  • Low
  • Medium
  • High
ContextFixed

Choose from:

Fixed  -  allows you to drag and drop individual Channels. Click here for more details

Flexible - allows you to configure the set up to automatically include Channels, see below for more details

StatusOffChoose On or Off to determine whether the system performs the checks
EmailEmpty

Tick if you want Sigma to send summary notifications that are raised on a regular basis.

Note, you can also manage a Strategy in Schedule Management Activity if an email address is added

To addressesEmpty

Enter email address(s) to send a summary notification to.

More than one email address can be entered, and will need to be separated with a comma.

Send to Site ContactEmptyTick if you want to send an email to the Site Contact (entered in the Site Editor) with a summary of notifications that relate to the assets on their site only.
RecurrenceMonthly

Choose from

  • Daily
  • Weekly
  • Monthly

Note, there are more options depending on which of the above you have chosen, see below for more details on the configuration options.

Channel Context Configuration

It is possible to define which periodic channels the strategy should run for. This will help you ensure your strategies continue to run as your energy estate evolves and assets change/get added.
A monitoring strategy can have a "context" of either:

  • Fixed - assign the channels you want the strategy to run for on a case by case basis. Doing it this way will only run for the channels that you have specifically assigned so it will not run against new periodic channels that you might add unless you also specifically assign them to the strategy.  Click here for instructions on how to do this.
  • Flexible - configure the attributes of the channel that the strategy should run for when setting up the strategy (e.g. run for all channels, run for channels of commodity type x etc.). Doing it this way will help make sure that the strategy will run for the assets you want it to as they evolve or new assets are added - you don't have to specify the periodic channel when you add new ones.

Setting up Flexible configuration:

  • Choose Flexible from the Context dropdown

         

  • Click on    to show the Flexible Context Configuration popup

         

Either:

  • Tick Yes to run for all Channels

         

OR

  • Leave as No and choose your own configuration using the dropdown options based on the attributes of the channel and their relates assets

The available options are: Commodity, Data type, Unit, Site Property Keys, Meter Property Keys, Channel Property Keys.

         

For example, the above configuration would include all Electricity and Gas Channels that have a unit set to kWh. As new channels that match these parameters are added to your estate, the monitoring strategy would automatically include them when it runs.

  • Click Save to return to the Monitoring Strategy Editor to continue configuring the Strategy

Email Options

If you want to be notified of new issues by email, you can choose how often you should get an email and who the email should be sent to.

  • Tick 
  • Enter the email address(es) you want to send the notification to. Any email addresses entered here will receive a summary of all notifications raised across the entire estate.  Note: for more than one email, add a comma between the addresses
  • Tick  if you want to send an email to the Site Contact (entered in the Location tab in the Site Editor). If this option is selected, the site contact will receive an email containing a summary of notifications only for the sites that they are responsible for

  • Recurrence:  Choose from Daily, Weekly or Monthly  (each option then has further choices for the configuration to configure exactly when the email will be sent). 

Emails will contain a summary of new notifications that have been raised since the last email was received. It will also contain a summary of all the outstanding notifications.

     



Unexpected Data Configuration section:

The Monitoring Strategy Editor also contains an Unexpected Data Configuration section that allows you to set the specific configuration to use when finding and managing the unexpected data.

FieldDefaultDescription
Check Closed SitesOff

Specify whether to include the check for channels which contain data, linked to closed Sites.

Choose from On or Off.

Note: when enabled, the Date closed recorded against the Site will be used as the basis for checking whether data has been received after that date.

Check Closed Channels Off

Specify whether to include the check for closed channels which contain data.

Choose from On or Off.

Note: when enabled, the Date of Closure recorded against the Channel will be used as the basis for checking whether data has been received after that date.

Include ZerosNo

Specify whether to include zeroes in the check the check for closed channels which contain data.

Choose from Yes or No.

Note: when enabled, if a channel contains interval meter readings with the value '0', then this will be flagged as unexpected data, assuming it is after the Site/Channel closure date as per the above configuration.


Useful Information

Where both the closed site and closed channel checks are enabled for the strategy, then the system will use the earliest data of the Site closure or Channel closure.

  • Click OK to save the Monitoring Strategy

Once the Strategy has been set up, Sigma will review the data each night and create any relevant notifications in the Notifications tab

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