Invoice Data vs. Industry Data: Explaining the Mismatch

Ever compared a supplier invoice to ElectraLink or Xoserve and thought, “These can’t both be right”? You’re not alone. Clients see a gap and worry the numbers are off. Here’s the key idea: industry data is the reference used for market settlement; invoices are built from it, but on different schedules with different rules. So yes, the totals might differ – but there are logical reasons behind it.

So what can cause this to happen?

Differences in Data Source and Timing

Billing vs. Settlement Calendars
Invoices are typically based on a billing cycle (e.g. monthly), whereas industry data follows the settlement calendar used for industry reconciliation, which operates in half-hourly or non-half-hourly settlement periods.

Estimated vs. Actual Reads
Suppliers may invoice using estimated reads if actual meter readings are not available at the billing cut-off, while industry data will receive actual reads when they’re eventually processed through the Data Transfer Network (DTN).

Read Frequency and Timing Misalignments
Industry data may be delayed due to the time it takes for meter reads to be validated and flowed through the industry systems. In contrast, supplier invoices may use the most recently available reads, even if they are unvalidated or partial.

Differences in Data Type and Aggregation

Aggregation Differences
Supplier invoices often present monthly kWh totals, which may combine actual and estimated data. industry flows (like D0036 or D0019) provide interval-level consumption data, which might not be fully reconciled.

Profile Class Assumptions (for non-half-hourly meters)
Suppliers estimate usage using profile coefficients (e.g., EAC/AA methodology), which may not match the actual patterns recorded by the meter and reported via the industry.

Data Quality and Errors

Data Flow Errors or Omissions
Not all reads may reach the industry due to missing or failed flows (e.g., faulty DTC flows like D0010 or D0036 not being issued). Conversely, billing systems may incorporate meter data not yet shared with the industry.

Manual Adjustments or Rebills
Suppliers sometimes apply manual corrections or rebills that are reflected on the invoice but not immediately mirrored in industry data.

Meter Configuration Changes
Changes in MPAN configuration, meter type, or MOP/MAP arrangements might not be reflected consistently or timely across systems, creating divergence.

Industry Process Lags

Settlement Reconciliation Lags
Industry data aligns with the settlement process, which can go through multiple reconciliation stages (R1, R2, R3, RF). Supplier billing may not wait for final settlement figures.

Delayed Registration Updates
Changes in supplier, agent, or meter operator registrations can result in gaps or overlaps in data flowing to the industry.

System and Process Differences

System Integration and Data Mapping Issues
Differences in how supplier billing systems, meter data systems, and industry data platforms map and store information can lead to mismatches — e.g., unit conversions (kWh vs. kVAh), rounding differences, or time-zone misalignments.

Differences in Time Zones and Clocks
Meter clocks might drift, or data may be aligned to UTC vs. local time, creating apparent discrepancies in periods and totals.

Data Is Complex, Decisions Shouldn’t Be

Disagreement doesn’t necessarily mean the data is wrong; it might just mean the systems are at different stages of the same journey.

Working with data is part technical, part operational, and part judgment. Tools pull data; people resolve edge cases. A seasoned team (like ours) will spot patterns like this fast – late actuals arriving after cut-off, profile class quirks, a clock shift adding or dropping half-hours – and keep your reporting steady without bouncing between sources.

Invoice and industry figures won’t always agree, but it shouldn’t make you doubt your decisions. That’s why you need a trusted partner. You should be able to pick up the phone, explain the mismatch in two sentences, and get a clear explanation from an expert on the subject. Fewer headaches, cleaner audits, KPIs that don’t move under your feet.

Reach out to us to learn more about how our data expertise can help you in your reporting.