What is data alignment in the topology view and when should I use it?
Data alignment (also called "data cutoff") ensures fair consumption comparisons when your meters have different data update frequencies. You find it in the topology header bar next to the time period selector.
The problem it solves
Imagine your main electricity meter updates hourly via API, but a tenant sub-meter is read via monthly CSV upload. If you look at "this month" consumption, the main meter has data through today but the sub-meter only has data through last month's upload. The unmeasured consumption would look artificially high because the sub-meter is behind.
Available cutoff options
- Latest Data (default) — Uses the most recent reading from each meter, even if they are from different dates. Fast but may have timing mismatches.
- 24h ago — Only uses readings older than 24 hours. Useful when some meters update hourly and others daily.
- 48h ago — Only uses readings older than 48 hours. Good for meters with 1-2 day reporting delays.
- 1 week ago — Only uses readings older than 1 week. For buildings mixing API feeds with weekly manual readings.
- 1 month ago — Only uses readings older than 1 month. For buildings where some meters are only read monthly.
Data freshness indicators
Each meter shows a freshness badge:
- Fresh (green) — Reading is within the expected window
- Delayed (amber) — Reading is near the edge of the cutoff
- Missing (red) — No reading exists within the allowed window
When to use it
- Your building mixes real-time API meters with CSV-imported or manually-read meters
- You see unreasonably high unmeasured consumption that drops after a data import arrives
- You are comparing sub-meters that report at different intervals
Where to configure: Analytics → Formula Meters → "Data Alignment" dropdown in the header bar.