Frequently asked questions

General

1. What are the overall benefits of an AMR system for businesses?

Energy and water metering systems can result in a reduction in energy and water costs, an increase in energy efficiency and a reduction in the negative impact on the environment, which will benefit business and the entire community in the long term.

2. Who is an AMR system intended for?

Every company can benefit from an AMR system, regardless of the sector or the size of the company. Our energy monitoring and air quality systems are installed in various facilities, from warehouse centers, hospitals and factories to schools, kindergartens and residential buildings.

It is important to point out that system installation is an almost indispensable tool for energy-intensive companies and institutions that are serious about managing energy efficiency, that must prepare ESG reports or are certified according to ISO 14001 and/or ISO 50001 standards.

Public institutions, whose total annual cost of energy and water consumption is equal to or greater than HRK 700,000.00 (equivalent in EUR), have a legal obligation to install an AMR system on all energy and water main meters and to submit data to the Energy Management Information System (ISGE).

The consumption monitoring system is also an excellent addition to projects of energy renewal, green transition, etc. co-financed by the EU.

3. What can be measured by an AMR system?

The consumption of water, electricity, gas, thermal energy, steam, fuel oil, etc. can be measured but the process of measuring and monitoring energy consumption can often lead to additional measurement requirements such as outdoor and indoor temperature, relative humidity (rH), flow, pressure, air quality, door open status, leak detection and more.

4. We produce our own electricity. Can this be integrated?

Yes, it can. We can measure and monitor the amount of energy produced and delivered from solar power plants. Likewise, through monitoring electricity production, the system provides an insight into whether your power plant is working at its best or not.

5. We read the meters manually, why can’t we just keep doing it?

Manual readings is a very inefficient way to collect data and won't give you the necessary granularity and frequency of data. This method is also open to human error. The implementation of a remote reading system can be considered as a process improvement.

6. How much does the remote reading system cost?

The price of an AMR system varies depending on your specific needs and the requirements of your facility. All our services are customized and made to measure, which means that the price depends on the scope of functionality, the size of the system, the type of technology used and other factors such as the model of existing meters, signal strength of the wireless equipment and the need for laying cables.

7. What is the expected return on investment (ROI) after implementing these systems?

There is no guarantee of how much money you can save, however world practice indicates 20%-30% savings are achievable with an active approach to energy management. The return on investment depends on the size of the facility, your business’s energy and water costs and how intensely you will use the collected data, but also to what extent you will implement further efficiency measures based on the data.

Implementation of an AMR system

1. Can an AMR system be implemented on any existing water, electricity or gas meter?

The AMR system can generally be implemented on most types of water, electricity or gas meters. During a site visit, we will confirm the possibility of connection of your meters. In the event that there is no possibility of connection, we will include the costs of the meter replacement in our quote. If it is necessary to replace one of the main meters, we will, with your consent, arrange the necessary works with the competent utility company.

2. Does the system have to be integrated with the company's existing communication infrastructure?

It may but does not have to. Our AMR system works independently of your communication infrastructure and can use its own communication protocols and methods for secure and efficient data transfer.

3. What are the practical steps for implementing a system for monitoring energy and water consumption?

Defining customer needs: The first step is to define your needs in terms of the scope, size and level of detail required to monitor energy and water consumption.

Site visit: After that, our representative comes to your site to determine its specific requirements. During the visit, we want to determine the exact location and ensure that the existing meters are compatible with automatic meter reading devices in order to provide you with the best possible solution.

We provide you with the optimal technical solution and seamlessly guide you through the implementation process.

4. How long does it take for the system to be installed and put into operation?

The duration of installation depends on the size and complexity of the system. For simple systems of three metering points (water, electricity and gas), installation can take half a day, and for more complex systems several days.

5. Will the implementation of the AMR system disrupt operations during installation?

In cases where it is necessary to install meters, short-term downtimes are necessary. However, the mentioned stoppages are carefully coordinated so that there is no stoppage in your production process.

After implementation

1. Is training required to use the monitoring software?

The system is configured for operation as soon as it is implemented, and consumption data is visible in the AMR Emasys software a day or two later. In order to fully maximize the benefits of the system, your responsible person should know how to manage the energy data in the application. Fortunately, Emasys offers free training for users of our system.

For system users from the public sector, consumption data is automatically sent from our system to ISGE (Information System for Energy Management). The Agency for Legal Traffic and Real Estate Brokerage (APN) organizes free workshops for ISGE users. It is necessary to register for their workshops via e-mail - isge@apn.hr.

2. How can I be certain of the accuracy of the readings and what do I do if I notice a problem with the readings?

We will always recommend the most reliable AMR equipment, which may be a slightly more expensive option at first, but in the long run, in our experience, it is the most cost-effective.

However, sometimes there will be a problem with the readings or their collection regardless of the installed equipment. We monitor the operation of the system even after installation to ensure its continuous and correct operation. If you notice an irregularity in the data before we do, please contact us and we will solve the problem as quickly as we can.

We also offer comprehensive services with regular maintenance as well as emergency interventions and problem solving. In most cases, a regular annual service of the entire system is included in the quote.

3. Is our consumption data secure?

We are compliant with the ISO 27001 standard for an information security management system, ensuring that data about customers and their consumption is stored and transmitted securely.

All readings that are transmitted from the meter to the host server are encrypted. The server has TLS 1.2+ security level, 2048-bit RSA SSL certificate. Access to the system is protected by a password.

For details on how we manage your personal customer information, please see our privacy policy.