0.    INTRODUCTION

       This specification provides the definition of the Metered
       services consumption report message (MSCONS) to be used in
       Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) between trading partners
       involved in administration, commerce and transport.

1.    SCOPE

1.1   Functional Definition

       A metered services consumption report is a communication
       between trading parties, or their agents, providing consumption
       and where associated technical, information at a location(s)
       for a product(s) or service(s) where the supply is recorded
       using a meter(s).

1.2   Field of Application

       The Metered services consumption report message may be used for
       both national and international applications. It is based on
       universal practice related to administration, commerce and
       transport, and is not dependent on the type of business or
       industry.

1.3   Principles

       - At least one delivery party (premise) shall be identified per
       message.
       
       - Each metered services consumption report will define the
       period of time for which the details contained are valid.
       
       - A metered services consumption report may be used to provide
       consumption information which may directly relate to other
       business functions, e.g. invoicing or process control.
       
       - A metered services consumption report may be sent by the
       buyer or the seller to the other party.
       
       - Metered services consumption report will be provided for
       premises as defined by trading partners.
       
       - Locations, products and, or services, and meters shall be
       identified where ever possible within the report using codes to
       facilitate automatic processing.
       
       - The metered services consumption report may be transmitted at
       any time and may be related directly to either a delivery(ies)
       and, or an invoice(s).
       
       - A metered services consumption report when used to support
       the financial information contained in an invoice may only
       relate to one invoice.
       
       - A metered services consumption report when used to indicate
       consumption or qualitative information may relate to one or
       many delivery parties (premises).

2.    REFERENCES

       See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.6 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction,
       Section 1.

3.    TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

3.1   Standard terms and definitions

       See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.6 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction,
       Section 2.

4.    MESSAGE DEFINITION

4.1   Data Segment Clarification

       This section should be read in conjunction with the Segment
       Table which indicate mandatory, conditional and repeating
       requirements.
       
       The following guidelines and principles apply to the whole
       message and are intended to facilitate the understanding and
       implementation of the message:
       
       - Where a choice of code or text is given only the code element
       should be used wherever possible.
       
       - Conditional data that is not required in the message should
       not be included.
       
       - Care must be taken that the segment qualifier in dependent
       segments do not conflict with the segment qualifier of the
       trigger segment of a group.
       
       - Free text information within the message should be avoided as
       this inhibits automatic processing. It is only used when
       additional information that cannot be accommodated within the
       other segments is required.

4.1.1  Header section

       Information to be provided in the Header section:

0010   UNH, Message header
       A service segment starting and uniquely identifying a message.
       The message type code for the Metered services consumption
       report message is MSCONS.
       
       Note: Metered services consumption report messages conforming
       to this document must contain the following data in segment
       UNH, composite S009:

       Data element  0065 MSCONS
                     0052 D
                     0054 97B
                     0051 UN

0020   BGM, Beginning of message
       A segment by which the sender must uniquely identify the
       metered services consumption report.

0030   DTM, Date/time/period
       A segment specifying the dates, and when relevant, the times
       related to the whole message. The segment must be specified at
       least once to specify the message date as allocated by the
       sender.


0040   Segment group 1: RFF-DTM
       A group of segments for specifying any references and their
       dates valid for the whole report.

0050      RFF, Reference
          A segment for the inclusion of any references related to the
          complete report, e.g. invoice number, contract number.

0060      DTM, Date/time/period
          A segment specifying the date and where necessary the time
          of the reference detailed in the preceding RFF segment.


0070   Segment group 2: NAD-SG3-SG4
       A group of segments identifying the parties involved in the
       transaction, reference numbers associated with the parties, and
       any contact points and numbers.

0080      NAD, Name and address
          A segment to identify the party name and address, either by
          coded identification or in clear form. It is recommended
          that were possible only the coded form of the party
          identification should be specified, e.g. the buyer and
          seller are known to each other, thus only the coded
          identification is required.


0090      Segment group 3: RFF-DTM
          A group of segments for specifying any references relating
          to the party identified in the NAD segment.

0100         RFF, Reference
             A segment for inclusion of any references related to the
             current party, e.g. fiscal number, government reference
             number, etc.

0110         DTM, Date/time/period
             A segment specifying the date and where necessary the
             time of the reference detailed in the preceding RFF
             segment.


0120      Segment group 4: CTA-COM
          A group of segments identifying the contact person or
          department for trading party and specifying the
          communication channel and number.

0130         CTA, Contact information
             A segment to identify a person or department and their
             function, to whom communication should be directed.

0140         COM, Communication contact
             A segment specifying the communication channel and number
             for the specified contact.

4.1.2  Detail section

       Information to be provided in the Detail section:

0150   UNS, Section control
       A segment placed at the start of the detail section to avoid
       segment collision.


0160   Segment group 5: NAD-SG6
       A group of segments identifying the delivery party (premise)
       and the meter for which consumption is being reported.

0170      NAD, Name and address
          A segment to identify the delivery party (premise) for which
          the following consumption information is being provided. It
          is recommended that where possible codes be used to identify
          the delivery party to facilitate the automatic processing.


0180      Segment group 6: LOC-DTM-SG7-SG8-SG9
          A group of segments identifying the meter being reported,
          the date of the meter read, associated references, the
          physical characteristics of the meter, and the product or
          service for which consumption information is reported.

0190         LOC, Place/location identification
             A segment to allow the identification of the meter to
             which the consumption information relates. It is
             recommended that where possible codes be used to identify
             the delivery party to facilitate automatic processing.

0200         DTM, Date/time/period
             A segment to specify dates associated with the reading of
             the meter.


0210         Segment group 7: RFF-DTM
             A group of segments for specifying any references and
             associated dates valid for the meter identified in the
             LOC segment.

0220            RFF, Reference
                A segment identifying any references related to the
                meter identified in the LOC segment (e.g. serial
                number).

0230            DTM, Date/time/period
                A segment to specify any dates associated with the
                currently referenced document.


0240         Segment group 8: CCI-DTM
             A group of segments used to provide characteristic
             information and associated dates for the current meter.

0250            CCI, Characteristic/class id
                A segment to describe the characteristics of the
                currently identified meter (e.g. sealed meter, banded
                meter).

0260            DTM, Date/time/period
                A segment specifying the date and where necessary the
                time related to the previously identified meter
                characteristics (e.g. installation date, connection
                date, meter banding date).


0270         Segment group 9: LIN-PIA-IMD-PRI-NAD-MOA-SG10-SG11
             A group of segments providing details of the metered
             products or services, quantities, characteristics, and
             any associated dates.

0280            LIN, Line item
                A segment identifying the metered product or service
                for which consumption information is being provided.

0290            PIA, Additional product id
                A segment providing additional identification to the
                product or service specified in the LIN segment (e.g.
                buyer's or supplier's product codes).

0300            IMD, Item description
                A segment for describing the metered product or
                service being reported. This segment should only be
                used for metered products or services that cannot be
                fully identified by an article number.

0310            PRI, Price details
                A segment providing the unit price of the currently
                identified product or service.

0320            NAD, Name and address
                A segment to identify parties related to the supply of
                the service (e.g. party telephoned) or related to the
                party who supplied the service (e.g. a petrol filling
                station).

0330            MOA, Monetary amount
                A segment to specify the total cost of the product or
                service currently being reported upon, e.g. the total
                cost of local telephone calls.


0340            Segment group 10:QTY-DTM
                A group of segments providing details of the meter
                read, consumption, correction quantities, and
                associated dates.

0350               QTY, Quantity
                   A segment identifying the consumption details, e.g.
                   opening meter read, consumption, adjustments
                   (correction).

0360               DTM, Date/time/period
                   A segment to specify dates related to the
                   previously specified consumption information.


0370            Segment group 11:CCI-MEA-DTM
                A group of segments providing characteristic details,
                measurements, and dates related to the details for the
                currently identified line item.

0380               CCI, Characteristic/class id
                   A segment used to describe the characteristics of
                   the currently identified product or service (e.g.
                   calorific values, chlorine content).

0390               MEA, Measurements
                   A segment enabling the indication of measurements
                   related to the characteristics identified in the
                   preceding CCI segment.

0400               DTM, Date/time/period
                   A segment to specify dates related to the
                   previously specified characteristic information.

4.1.3  Summary section

       Information to be provided in the Summary section:

0410   CNT, Control total
       A segment by which control totals may be sent by the sender for
       checking by the receiver.

0420   UNT, Message trailer
       A service segment ending a message, giving the total number of
       segments in the message and the control reference number of the
       message.

4.2   Data segment index (Alphabetical sequence by tag)

          BGM Beginning of message
          CCI Characteristic/class id
          CNT Control total
          COM Communication contact
          CTA Contact information
          DTM Date/time/period
          IMD Item description
          LIN Line item
          LOC Place/location identification
          MEA Measurements
          MOA Monetary amount
          NAD Name and address
          PIA Additional product id
          PRI Price details
          QTY Quantity
          RFF Reference
          UNH Message header
          UNS Section control
          UNT Message trailer

Contents of MSCONS