Observations

Maintaining a consistent data "atom" is challenging when utility providers use varying identification schemes. Arcadia frequently encounters three primary hurdles in data tracking:

Account Number Ambiguity

Providers will often present various identifiers on a bill, such as organization-level IDs, client numbers, or other identifiers like "Premise ID". It is easy to interpret these as an "Account Number"; however, Arcadia looks for a unique identifier that stays consistent over records, which is typically stated as the "Account Number" or something adjacent. The other identifiers will typically be captured somewhere else within the data model, but there is only a single "Account Number" pulled from each invoice.

Meter Number Volatility

Meter numbers can often be absent (NULL), generic (e.g., "Totalizer"), or change entirely during a physical meter replacement. These scenarios can create his creates "technical debt" if a system relies solely on the string value of a meter number.

Deregulated Market Complexity

In deregulated markets, linking supplier and distributor data requires a common reference point—the Point of Delivery (POD) ID—which is often presented inconsistently across different utilities.

Policy

To ensure maximum accuracy and granularity, Arcadia follows certain consistent policies:

• The account number must be unique and property-specific. It must be clearly indicated as an account-level identifier. Organization-level customer IDs are not supported as account number targets.
• While a Meter Number is a valuable data point, Arcadia considers the Meter ID (Arcadia's system-generated UUID) to be the central, most reliable key. If a meter number is NULL or generic, the Meter ID remains the unique identifier for that site.
• When a utility performs a physical meter replacement, Arcadia will generate a new Meter ID. This reflects a change in the physical "atom" of the data and requires remapping in downstream systems.
• In policy-controlled deregulated markets, the POD ID will be extracted as it appears, and should be considered the second most valuable key after the Meter Number. It is used to provide a common reference between supplier and distributor data.

FAQs

What should I do if my internal system uses a different ID than Arcadia’s Account Number?

We recommend using Arcadia’s Custom Data fields. You can tag accounts with your own internal client or organization IDs there, while allowing the Arcadia Account Number to serve as the unique key for enrollment and tracking.

Why did my Meter ID change?

A change in Meter ID typically signifies a physical meter replacement by the utility. Because the "atom" of the data has changed, a new ID is generated to ensure historical accuracy.

Can I rely on the Meter Number if it says "Totalizer" or "Unmetered"?

No. Arcadia's policy is to reject generic terms or zeros as valid meter numbers. In these cases, our system treats the meter number as NULL and relies on the Meter ID to maintain the identity of the metering site.

Where do I find the POD ID for my deregulated accounts?

The PointOfDeliveryNumber is located within the Meter array. It can be found in the "List Detailed Statements," "List Statements," and "List Meters" endpoints.

Conclusion

Arcadia recommends that customers embrace the Meter Group as the core of their data model. While account-level tracking may seem simpler, utilizing the Meter ID and POD ID ensures the highest level of granularity. By accepting property-specific account numbers and tracking Meter ID rotations, customers can avoid common pitfalls in data linking and ensure their integration remains robust across different utility markets.