Oracle 1z0-996-22 - Oracle Utilities Customer Cloud Service 2022 Implementation Professional

According to the Oracle Utilities Customer Cloud Service User Guides, a device type is a configuration entity that defines the properties and behaviors of a device, such as what service it measures, what business object it uses, what characteristics it has, and what measuring components it supports1. Therefore, the following device type attributes are required to identify these device types:

A. Device Business Object. A device business object is a mandatory attribute that specifies the business object that is used to store and process the device data in the system1. Different device business objects have different fields, validations, and algorithms to handle different types of devices1. For example, the D1-ScalarDevice business object is used for scalar devices that measure a single quantity, such as a gas manual meter2, while the D1-IntervalDevice business object is used for interval devices that measure multiple quantities at regular intervals, such as an electric smart meter3.

B. Service Type. A service type is a mandatory attribute that specifies the type of service that the device measures, such as electricity, gas, water, or sewerage1. A service type also defines the characteristics and measurements of the service, such as the unit of measure, the measuring component type, and the service quantity identifier. For example, an electric smart meter can measure electricity service with kWh as the unit of measure, D1-ScalarMC as the measuring component type, and D1-Consumption as the service quantity identifier3, while a gas manual meter can measure gas service with m3 as the unit of measure, D1-ScalarMC as the measuring component type, and D1-Consumption as the service quantity identifier2.

The following device type attributes are not required to identify these device types:

C. Valid Measuring Component Types. Valid measuring component types are optional attributes that specify the measuring component types that can be associated with the device type1. A measuring component type defines the most important properties of a measuring component, such as what it measures, how regularly it measures it, and whether it should be connected to a physical device. If valid measuring component types are not specified for a device type, then any measuring component type can be associated with the device type1.

D. Manufacturer. Manufacturer is an optional attribute that specifies the name of the manufacturer of the device type1. This attribute can be used to filter or group device types by manufacturer, but it is not essential to identify the device type1.

E. Serial Number. Serial number is not an attribute of the device type, but an attribute of the device instance1. A serial number is a unique identifier that is assigned to each device by the manufacturer or the utility1. A serial number can be used to identify a specific device, but not a device type1.

References:

Configuring Device Types

D1-ScalarDevice Business Object

D1-IntervalDevice Business Object

[Understanding Service Types]

[Understanding Measuring Component Types]

A Payment Arrangement Request is a business object that supports the step-by-step process of creating a Payment Arrangement, which is an agreement between the customer and the utility to pay off the outstanding balance in installments. A Payment Arrangement Request can perform the following functions:

Examines the Account’s eligibility for Payment Arrangement: The Payment Arrangement Request can check if the account meets the criteria for a Payment Arrangement, such as the account status, the account type, the delinquent amount, the number of previous Payment Arrangements, and the collection process stage.

Calculates delinquent amount for Service Agreements eligible for Payment Arrangement: The Payment Arrangement Request can calculate the total delinquent amount for the service agreements that are eligible for a Payment Arrangement, based on the payoff balance and the payment arrangement type. The delinquent amount is the amount that must be paid off by the Payment Arrangement.

Determines if the Payment Arrangement Request requires approval: The Payment Arrangement Request can determine if the request needs to be approved by a supervisor or an external agency, based on the approval rules and the payment arrangement type. The approval rules can include the delinquent amount, the number of installments, the down payment amount, and the payment arrangement type.

References: Lifecycle Of A Payment Arrangement Request, Payment Arrangement Requests, Setting Up Payment Arrangement Requests

Derived values are values that are calculated from final measurements using formulas or algorithms. They are used to represent different aspects of the same measurement, such as peak demand, average consumption, or temperature correction. Final measurements can have multiple derived values associated with them, as long as they have the same date and time. For example, a final measurement of electricity consumption for a specific hour can have derived values for peak demand, average demand, and power factor for that same hour. Derived values are stored separately from final measurements, but they are linked by the measurement ID and the derived value type. Derived values can be used for downstream processing such as billing, reporting, or analytics. References: About Final Measurements, [About Derived Values]

QUESTIONNO: 6

What happens when a device’s measuring components are reconfigured (a new measuring component will be read) at a service point?

A. A device with a new configuration type is created.

B. The original installation event is updated with the “removal” (expire old device configuration).

C. A device with a new configuration type is created. Moreover, a new installation event is created to ‘install” (new device configuration).

D. The original installation event is updated with the “removal” (expire old device configuration) and a new installation event is created to “install” (new device configuration).

E. A new installation event is created to “install” (new device configuration).

Answer: A

In Oracle Utilities Customer Cloud Service, when configuring a VEE (Validation, Estimation, and Editing) group for the purpose of executing rules during the loading of Initial Measurement Data (IMD), the VEE group is directly associated with both Device Type and Measuring Component Type. This association is crucial as it determines how the VEE group and its rules apply to the data from specific types of devices and measuring components. This ensures that the data validation, estimation, and editing processes are tailored to the characteristics and requirements of the specific types of devices and components being used in the utility's operations​​​​​​.

References:

Oracle documentation on Configuring VEE Groups: Configuring VEE Groups​​.

Oracle documentation on Understanding VEE Groups: Understanding VEE Groups​​.

Oracle documentation on VEE Groups: VEE Groups​​.

The Get Scalar Details usage rule is used to get usage from scalar measuring components installed in the Service Points linked to the Usage Subscription for the specified ‘Scalar’ usage period1. By default, all scalar measuring components are processed, but if specific UOMs/TOUs/SQIs are defined in the usage calculation rule, then only applicable measuring components are processed1. The attributes that can be defined to retrieve scalar values are:

Unit of Measure (UOM): This attribute specifies the unit of measure of the scalar value, such as kWh, kW, etc. Only scalar measuring components with the same UOM as the usage calculation rule will be processed1.

Service Quantity Identifier (SQI): This attribute specifies the service quantity identifier of the scalar value, such as Demand, Consumption, etc. Only scalar measuring components with the same SQI as the usage calculation rule will be processed1.

Time of Use (TOU): This attribute specifies the time of use of the scalar value, such as Peak, Off-Peak, etc. Only scalar measuring components with the same TOU as the usage calculation rule will be processed1. References:

1: Get Scalar Details

 Usage transactions are the results of usage calculations that derive usage quantities (bill determinants) from the measurements of the measuring components or devices installed at the usage subscription’s service points1. Usage transactions can be calculated from either initial measurement data (IMD) or final measurement data (FMD), depending on the usage calculation rules defined in the usage calculation group referenced on the usage subscription2. However, the statement that supports usage transaction calculation is the one that refers to the final measurements, as they are the most accurate and complete data available for billing purposes3. Therefore, the correct answer is C. Bill determinants are derived from the final measurements of the measuring components or devices installed at the usage subscription’s service points during the calculation period. References:

About Usage Calculation

Understanding Usage Calculation Groups

About Final Measurement Data

Whenever a device is installed or removed at a service point, an installation event is created. Installation events capture the history of the devices that have been installed at a service point and link a specific device configuration to the service point. There are different types of installation events for different types of devices, such as smart meters, manual meters, items, and communication components. In this case, since there has been a meter exchange at a service point in the past year, there must be two installation events: one for the removal of the old meter and one for the installation of the new meter. Both installation events will have the same service point ID, but different device configuration IDs and dates/times. References: About Install Events, Maintaining Install Events

A bill segment is a grouping of charges and adjustments that are related to a specific service agreement or service point. A bill segment can have one or more bill calculation headers, which are the result of applying calculation groups to the bill segment. A bill calculation header can have one or more bill calculation lines, which are the individual charges and adjustments that appear on the bill. A bill segment can have multiple bill calculation headers when there are multiple Rate Version Calculation Groups applied to the bill segment. A Rate Version Calculation Group is a calculation group that contains the rules for calculating the charges based on the rate version assigned to the service agreement. A bill segment can have multiple rate versions if there is a rate change during the bill period, or if there are multiple service agreements with different rate versions covered by the bill segment. Each rate version will generate a separate bill calculation header within the bill segment. The other options are not correct because they do not cause multiple bill calculation headers within a bill segment. Multiple Scheduled Read Dates covered by the bill period will affect the usage quantity and the bill factor, but not the number of bill calculation headers. Proration at Bill Factor level or Calculation Rules level will affect the calculation of the charges and adjustments, but not the number of bill calculation headers. Multiple service agreements being covered by a bill segment will affect the bill segment level, but not the bill calculation header level. References: Bill Segments, Bill Calculation Headers, Rate Version Calculation Groups

A usage subscription defines the relationship between a service point and a usage recipient, such as a service provider or a billing system1. A usage subscription must exist before usage transactions can be calculated for a specific service point2. The usage recipient is configured in the usage subscription type, which is a template for creating usage subscriptions3. The usage subscription type specifies the default usage recipient, the usage rule type, the usage subscription status, and other attributes for the usage subscriptions of that type3. References:

1: Usage Subscriptions

2: Usage Transactions

3: Usage Subscription Types

 Initial measurement data (IMD) is the raw data that is received from external systems and processed by the system to create final measurements for billing and analysis. IMD goes through two major stages of processing: IMD Seeder and Specific IMD. The IMD Seeder is the common interface point that receives all IMD information and performs critical validations and conversions. The critical validations include checking the validity of the device and measuring component identifiers, the date and time format, the unit of measure, and the measurement status. If the IMD passes the critical validations, it is sent to the appropriate specific IMD business object for further processing. The specific IMD business object performs additional validations and calculations based on the type and category of the IMD. These validations include multiplier check, high/low check, sum check, and VEE rules. If the IMD passes all the validations and calculations, it is marked as “Final” and the final measurements are created. Therefore, if the IMD is not in the “Final” measurement status, it means that it has passed the critical validation, but not the other validations and calculations. References: Processing Initial Measurement Data, Initial Measurement Data, Configuring the Initial Measurement Algorithms

In Oracle Utilities Customer Cloud Service, proration can be disabled on three key entities: the Calculation Rule Business Object, Bill Factor, and Rate Version Calculation Group. Proration is a method used to adjust charges or quantities based on the portion of the billing period or rate version effective period that they cover. Disabling proration on these entities allows for greater control over how charges are calculated and applied, ensuring that they align with the specific billing and rate strategies of the utility company. This is particularly important in scenarios where fixed charges or quantities are applied irrespective of the portion of the period they cover​​.

References:

Oracle documentation on Service Quantity Proration: Service Quantity Proration​​.