Report-01

Monthly Trends—Comparing Year-to-Year

Report-01 is a line chart and data table that displays monthly data across multiple years. This report helps to compare values across years.

Use variance filters to highlight exceptions and unusual patterns.

By default, Report-01 is a one-page summary. If you want a detailed view for each object (like a building), use the Group by filter to generate one page per object.

Filters used to create the Report sample report shown above.

Report-01 vs Report-08

These reports may look similar, but they focus on different comparisons:

  • Report-01 compares multiple years for one objects
    Example: A site's total commodity cost for 2015 to 2020.
  • Report-08 compares multiple objects for one year
    Example: Several sites' monthly commodity cost for 2020

Report-01 recommendations

  • You must include a time period, either data range or accounting period.
  • When you use the filter between with negative numbers, remember to enter the smaller value first.
  • When you are reporting on Cost Avoidance, remember to run Cost Avoidance -> Calculate Savings first.
  • If you use the Chargebacks module, remember to use the appropriate Topmost place or Topmost cost center to prevent double counting use or cost.

Report-01 variance threshold

Set a variance threshold and have the report automatically highlight abnormal results in the data table. When you use equals, only those specific lines are highlighted, consider using greater than or less than to highlight any rows greater or less than the specified amount.

  • Variance % from 1st year selected - compares each year to the selected year
  • Variance % from prior year - compares each year to the prior year

Set your Report-01 filters

  1. In the Data type field, choose the data set you want to use for the report.
     
    Data set When to use it Why it helps
    Billing Period Accounting, chargebacks, or any task that needs the exact bill dates Uses the raw start and end dates from the utility bill
    Calendarized Month-to-month or year-over-year cost analysis Spreads each bill across true calendar months so totals line up with financial periods
    Normalized Year-over-year usage analysis Adjusts energy use for weather, removing temperature as a variable
  2. First month
    Choose the month to start your report.
  3. Include account charges
    Decide whether to include one-time or periodic charges.
    These are not linked to use or demand on the bill.
  4. Value
    Select what you want to report on.
  5. Time period
    Use the Date range filter to set the reporting period.
    Or choose Accounting period—only available when using Billing period data.

If you stop here, you have a one page summary report for your entire organization or your assigned topmost permissions.

Other filters to consider for Report-01

1. What Are You Reporting On?

Decide your report focus: building, meter, cost center, etc.

  • One building
    Set Topmost place to that specific building.
  • Multiple buildings
    Set Topmost place to the organization.
  • Meters
    Use the Meter group filter.
  • One or more cost centers
    Use the Topmost cost center filter.

2. Report Format: One Page or Multi-Page?

Use the Group by filter to control the layout:

  • No Group by filter
    One-page executive summary.
  • Group by site (with topmost = organization)
    One chart and data table per site.

3. Commodities

  • To include all commodities, skip this filter.
  • To include only specific commodities, use the Commodity category filter for more detailed charts and data.

4. Account Status

  • To include only active accounts, apply the Active account filter.
  • Without it, the report includes both active and inactive accounts.

5. Void Bills

  • Decide whether to include or exclude void bills in your report.

6. Chargebacks or Vendor Bills

  • Use the Bill is from external vendor filter:
    • Select yes to show only vendor bills.
    • Select no to show only chargeback bills.
    • Leave blank to include both.

Configure Report-01 options

Report-01 is flexible and has many configuration options. To help you be successful several configured reports are available.

Each report has its own preset filters and instructions.