Meter Readings
The Meter Readings app records electricity, gas, water and other meter readings with dial photos, so teams can investigate disputed bills and spot unusual jumps.
14 days free, $0 today — App Builder comes with every suite.
Rolled out to every employee at AutoZone (125,000), PetSmart (50,000+), A.S. Watson and Raley's (20,000) — and at larger retailers we are not permitted to name.
Built for: Commercial property management · Manufacturing and industrial facilities · Healthcare facilities · Education campuses · Hospitality and hotels
Overview
Meter Readings is a working MangoApps app for recording electricity, gas, water, heat and sub-meter readings as they happen. Each record includes the required Meter, Type, Reading and Read on fields, with Location, Serial, Read by, Notes and Photo of dial providing the context needed to identify the asset and check the evidence. Status tracks whether a reading is Normal, Higher than expected or a Meter fault.
The register is append-only: records are never deleted. That preserves the issue history when a bill is questioned, a leak is investigated or a meter begins to fail. Every member can add records, while the Read by field shows who entered each reading. The This month view supports routine checks, Needs attention isolates anything not marked Normal, and Electricity focuses review on power meters.
Use Latest for a quick metric and card-based view, Trend for chart and grid review, and Full log for the complete register. When a new record is marked Higher than expected or Meter fault, the Unusual reading logged automation notifies the app owner. This template is suited to manual operational readings; it is not an automatic utility feed, a billing system, or a substitute for a provider statement or regulated retention system.
Standards & compliance context
- The append-only register and dial photos can support utility-bill checks and facilities evidence, but they do not replace provider records or a formally required retention system.
- For sites with environmental, safety or landlord reporting duties, align the Read on cadence, record retention and reviewer responsibilities with the applicable local requirements.
- Restrict operational review of meter records to the people who need it and confirm workspace permissions before adding the app to a shared tenant.
General regulatory context for orientation only — verify current requirements with counsel or the relevant agency before relying on this template for compliance.
How to use this template
- Add the Meter Readings app from the template to your MangoApps workspace and confirm which meters the register will cover.
- Decide which facilities staff or site members will take readings, remembering that every member can add records and Read by identifies the contributor.
- Log each reading as it happens by selecting Meter and Type, entering Reading and Read on, and adding Location, Serial, Notes and Photo of dial where useful.
- Select Normal, Higher than expected or Meter fault in Status after comparing the reading with the expected pattern or meter condition.
- Review This month, Needs attention and Electricity, then use Latest, Trend or Full log to compare records and investigate jumps.
- Act on the notification from Unusual reading logged and update the next record's Status and Notes to show whether the issue was checked or remains open.
Best practices
- Use a consistent Meter label and complete Location and Serial so readings cannot be confused when several dials are installed together.
- Photograph the dial for readings that are higher than expected, disputed or associated with a suspected meter fault.
- Enter the actual Read on date and Reading at the time of the visit instead of backfilling several readings from memory.
- Compare readings with the same meter's previous records before selecting Higher than expected.
- Treat Meter fault as an actionable condition and record the inspection result or next step in Notes.
- Keep Status Normal only for readings that have been checked against the expected usage pattern and meter condition.
- Review Needs attention after the app owner receives the Unusual reading logged notification rather than waiting for the next billing cycle.
- Use the append-only history to correct context in a new record or Note instead of deleting the original reading.
What this template typically catches
Issues teams running this template most often surface in practice:
Common use cases
Frequently asked questions
What types of meters can this template track?
The Type field supports Electricity, Gas, Water, Heat and Sub-meter. Use Meter, Location and Serial to distinguish multiple meters at one site. The Electricity saved view provides a focused list for power meters.
Who can add meter readings?
Every member can add records, which suits facilities teams, site staff and other people who take readings. The Read by field identifies the user who entered each record. Assign responsibility locally so each meter is checked on a predictable cadence.
How often should readings be recorded?
Use the billing or facilities schedule that fits the property, such as monthly readings or more frequent checks for leak-prone areas. The Read on date makes the cadence visible in This month and the Full log screen. Record a reading as soon as it is taken rather than entering several readings later from memory.
How does the app identify an unusual reading?
The person adding the record selects Normal, Higher than expected or Meter fault in the Status field. Any new record with a status other than Normal appears in Needs attention. The Unusual reading logged automation then notifies the app owner when that record is added.
Is this a replacement for a utility bill or official meter record?
It is an operational evidence log, not a utility provider statement or a substitute for a legally required recordkeeping system. Photo of dial, Read on, Reading, Meter and Serial provide useful context when checking a bill or investigating consumption. Confirm retention and verification requirements with your utility, landlord or compliance adviser.
What is the main pitfall when using a meter-reading log?
A common mistake is recording a number without the correct meter, date or dial photo, especially where several meters are close together. Require Meter and Read on, and use Location and Serial to confirm identity before saving. Photograph the dial when a reading is disputed or looks unusual.
Can we customize the fields and views?
Yes, the starting app can be customized in your MangoApps workspace. You can adapt labels, add site-specific context or adjust saved views while keeping the core reading, status and photo workflow. Review any changes with the people who enter records so the register remains quick to use.
Can this template connect to utility billing or meter hardware?
The supplied template records readings entered by members and includes an automation that notifies the app owner. It does not promise automatic meter capture, barcode scanning or a utility-billing integration. Use the Reading and Photo of dial fields to support manual verification during rollout.
How is this better than a spreadsheet or clipboard?
The app keeps an append-only register, so records are never deleted and the lifecycle is tracked through Status. This month, Needs attention and Electricity saved views make common follow-up lists available without sorting a spreadsheet. Latest, Trend and Full log screens also give different people a practical way to review the same records.
Related templates
Ready to use this template?
Meter Readings runs on a platform app included with every MangoApps plan — pick a suite and it comes along.
Rolled out to every employee at AutoZone (125,000), PetSmart (50,000+), A.S. Watson and Raley's (20,000) — and at larger retailers we are not permitted to name.
