How does a utility invoice become consumption data in the dashboard?

When you upload a utility invoice PDF, the platform extracts consumption data using AI and links it to your meters. Here is how the full pipeline works:

Step 1 — Upload the invoice

Go to Invoices → Upload. Drag and drop one or more PDF invoice files. Select the building the invoice belongs to.

Step 2 — OCR extraction

The system uses OCR (powered by AI) to read the invoice and extract structured data:

Meter number(s) listed on the invoice
Energy consumption, kept internally in watt-hours
Water consumption in cubic meters, if applicable
Billing period (start and end date)
Total amount, unit prices, and other financial data
The energy carrier type (electricity, gas, heating, etc.)

Step 3 — Meter linking

The system tries to automatically link the invoice to an existing meter by matching the meter number. It normalizes both values (removes dashes, spaces, dots, and lowercases) before comparing. For example, "707-057-500-012345" will match a meter with number "707057500012345".

If no match is found, the invoice is stored but unlinked. You can manually link it later via the invoice detail page → "Link to Meter" option.

Step 4 — Consumption appears in charts

Once linked to a meter, the invoice's consumption is available to the Energy dashboard. The chart aggregates invoice consumption by month, using the start date of the invoice's billing period.

Important details

Consumption is stored in watt-hours internally and converted to kWh (÷ 1000) when displayed
Each invoice can be linked to one meter
All extracted details are kept on the invoice for reference, so you can always compare them with the original document
Invoice data and live meter data are merged in the chart — invoice-sourced bars show with an "(Invoice)" label

Where to check: Invoices → click on an invoice to see its extracted data and meter link status. If "Meter" shows as unlinked, click "Link to Meter" and select the correct meter.

Important — always verify extracted data against the original invoice

AI and OCR extraction is automated and not guaranteed to be 100% accurate. Scanned PDFs, unusual layouts, image-based invoices, or multi-page documents can cause extraction errors. After uploading an invoice, always open the invoice detail page and compare the extracted values (meter number, consumption, billing period, total amount) with the original document. Do not rely solely on the extracted data for billing, cost allocation, or financial reporting without first confirming it matches the original invoice.