Meter readings module
The meter readings module is a useful tool to, among other things, settle energy, gas, and/or water consumption with owners and tenants. In this article you can read exactly what you can do with the meter readings module and how you can use this module.
This module can be found under the Setup tab, submenu meter readings. If you don't see this submenu in Booking Experts, send an e-mail to support@bookingexperts.nl and we can activate the module for you.
Enter price per unit
Before you can charge meter readings to owners or tenants, you must first enter the price per unit for the various meters. You can also use different rates for this. For example, think of a low rate, peak rate, or a combination. You can create the new meter types for gas, water and electricity via the tab meter types. When creating a new meter type, you enter the name, the supply and the type of rate. You also add a general ledger account and enter the price per unit.
Entering meter readings for owner settlement
You can enter the meter readings per object by opening the meter readings tab on the object page. You can then enter the meter readings for gas, water and electricity at the same time. It is not possible to enter meter readings that are lower than the previous measurement. You give the new value the correct date and then you indicate between which start measurement and end measurement the difference should be settled. Based on the difference in meter readings and the price per unit, you can then send an invoice to the owner.
To be able to send a settlement to the owner, you must compare at least two meter readings. The settlement will then be made to the owner who is active on the last date of the settlement.
It is possible to enter the meter readings of multiple types and/or objects in bulk. To do this, go to the meter readings module and select the meter types you want to include, the objects for which you want to enter the measurement and the recording date. The entered meter readings are then automatically added in the meter readings tab within the objects.
Settle GWE advance with the invoice to be paid
After you have created an invoice for the settlement of GWE, you can choose the button credit invoice line in the invoice. In the next screen you will then see an overview of all previously charged invoice lines. This also includes the advances for GWE that were previously charged.
Charging GWE to the guest
You can also charge GWE use based on meter readings to a guest. You can enter a start reading when checking in the reservation, and an end reading when checking out.
To be able to charge GWE to the guest, this option must be enabled in the Type settings. Edit the relevant type, and tick the box settle meter readings with guest under the heading details.
When checking in and checking out the reservation, you will automatically be asked for the meter readings of the relevant object. When you enter these meter readings, you can choose create meter reading invoice. This will cause the GWE use to appear on the invoice.
Forgot to tick the box to create a meter reading invoice during checkout? No problem! In the reservation overview, you can click on the button with the three dots in the reservation block and you can create a meter reading invoice here.
Settling the meter reading invoice with a charged advance payment works the same way as for owners.
Retrieve meter readings through integration
You can also retrieve the meter readings of your objects through an integration, for example with ICY. This gives you the option to automatically retrieve and enter the meter reading data both when checking in and checking out.
Meter reading invoicing overview and control
Booking Experts keeps track of whether all recorded meter readings have also been settled. You can find this overview by clicking on the button invoicing overview in the submenu meter readings. From this overview you can quickly see which periods have been recorded and whether they have already been invoiced.
If a meter reading has been recorded but not invoiced, this will be displayed in the overview with the text "no invoice".
By clicking on the name of the object, you will automatically be forwarded to the meter readings tab within the object. The last two recording dates are selected here by default. You check these meter readings and then click on create invoice. The invoice is then created in draft, after which you can optionally settle the advances or send the invoice.
You can open all meter readings that have not yet been invoiced at the same time by opening them one by one in a new tab (Apple: cmd + click, Windows: cntrl + click). This way you can easily invoice all objects one after the other.
Export meter readings
Via the meter readings submenu you can export an overview of the meter readings of certain types and/or objects in a CSV file. Here you select the meter types, objects, recording date and the number of meter readings with which you want to compare the recording. You can then export this selection by clicking on the export button at the bottom right of the page.