Automation Use Cases
There are a variety of automation use cases enabled by the Leap universal APIs and partners have the flexibility to choose which ones to automate and when. Below is a summary of these use cases and how they apply per program type. For help in determining which use cases to start with, check out the Residential Phasing or Commercial Phasing guides.
Use Cases by Program Type
As outlined in the table below, programs fall under one of three program types based on how meters are onboarded, interval data is collected, and dispatch event performance is measured. All markets/programs within each of these program groupings are structured very similarly and therefore have the same operational and automation use cases. Additionally, most integration use cases are also the same for all three program types meaning you can have a single program-agnostic integration that scales to all current and future programs without needing to make integration updates.
Automation Use Cases
| Program Type | Preparing to Launch | Ongoing Operations |
|---|---|---|
| Onboard Meters to the Leap Platform |
Schedule Grid Events |
Manage Meters |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Opt-In with: Leap Connect & Connect Reminders |
Opt-Out or Opt-In with: Create Meters |
Meter Inventory & Dispatch Automation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Utility Authorization Utility Meter Programs |
✔ | N/A |
| Direct Enroll Device Programs & Texas ERS |
N/A | ✔* |
- Customer auto-enrollment opt-out campaigns are recommended in order to maximize grid support and partner revenue
** The MA CPS program has fixed daily event hours and therefore dispatch integration is not required
*** The TX ERS program is a utility meter program and does not require interval data upload
Program Type Differences
Check out the Onboard Overview guide for more details on the programs and onboard methods.
Utility Authorization ( Utility Meter Programs): Utility account authorization is required in order for Leap to enroll customer utility meters and calculate performance.
Direct Enroll: Utility account authorization is NOT required. Partners can simply submit required enrollment data to Leap.
Utility Meter Programs: Utility meter performance is calculated by the program operator.
- Device Programs: Enrollment and performance calculations happen at the device-level for these programs. Partners can simply upload device interval data for Leap to calculate performance.
Handling utility meter vs. device Leap meters
In most cases the same integration will work for both utility meter and device programs however note the processing differences between these two types of Leap meters in the Utility Meters vs. Devices developer guide.
Use Case Phasing Recommendations
Prioritizing use cases and development hours is an important consideration. Check out the recommended use case phasing guides below in order to maximize time to launch and partner grid services revenue while managing upfront development resources.
Summary of Use Cases
A summary of use cases is below. Click on each link to see the relevant developer guide with additional details, recommendations, and API endpoints.
Preparing to Launch
Onboard Meters
For Utility Authorization (Utility Meter) programs:
Leap Connect - Embed Leap Connect URL into both customer sales/install workflows as well as existing customer install base enrollment workflows in order for customers to complete authorization
- Connect Reminders - Automate customer re-engagement and increase enrollment conversion rates
For Direct Enroll (Utility Meter & Device) programs:
Opt-out auto-enrollment campaigns recommended in order to maximize grid support and partner revenue
- Create Meters - Add meters directly to Leap platform for enrolled customers and devices
Schedule Grid Events
- Meter Inventory [Use cases A-C] - Sync meters between Leap platform and partner systems in preparation for dispatching
- Dispatch Automation - Receive dispatch event notifications (webhook push recommended) and automate control of customer devices
Ongoing Operations
Manage Meters
- Optimize Enrollments [Use case D] - Track customer meter eligibility and partner actions in order to maximize meter enrollments and revenue
- Manage Participation - Manage meter participation over time based on seasonal requirements or customer requests
Monetize Customer Meters
For Direct Enroll (Device) programs:
Interval Upload - Automate device interval data uploads via SFTP client library
Revenue Reporting - Sync revenue and settlement data to financial reporting systems, automate customer payments (if applicable), and alert on meters with high missed revenue in order to take corrective action
Event Performance - Track performance and alert on poor performing meters in order to take corrective action
Updated8 months ago