Anyone else having problems with Dominion Energy's new customer portal in Virginia? When I export interval data CSV files, I'm getting gaps in the timestamp sequence. Yesterday's download was missing 6 hours of data from July 15th with no explanation. Called customer service and they said it's a 'known system issue' but couldn't give me a timeline for fixes. This is making audits nearly impossible.
Dominion interval data export issues - missing timestamps
Marcus, I'm in Richmond and having the exact same problem. Their IT department upgraded the portal last month and it's been a disaster. Missing data, corrupted timestamps, files that won't open properly. I've started requesting data directly from their metering department via email. Takes longer but at least I get complete datasets. Try calling 804-273-2800 and ask for interval data services.
This is exactly why I always validate interval data before starting any analysis. Missing timestamps can completely skew demand and TOU calculations. Pete here in Idaho - I've learned to always sort by timestamp first and look for sequential gaps. If you're missing more than 2-3 intervals, the whole billing period analysis could be wrong. Document everything for your client reports.
Sandra, thanks for that direct number. Got through to their metering tech and he admitted the portal upgrade corrupted their data export functions. They're manually pulling complete datasets for auditors until the system gets fixed. Estimated 2-3 weeks for a permanent solution. At least there's a workaround now.
Y'all might want to check your historical data too. Bobby here in Memphis - been doing some backdating analysis and found that Dominion's portal issues actually started in May, not July. Some of my spring audits might need to be re-run with corrected data. This could affect dozens of client reports if the missing intervals changed peak demand calculations.
Bobby raises a good point about historical data integrity. I'm going back and spot-checking my Dominion audits from the past 6 months. Found three cases where missing intervals during peak hours resulted in understated demand charges. Had to issue amended reports to those clients. This portal mess is costing us all credibility and time.
Folks, this is a perfect example of why we need backup data sources. Bob here in Arkansas - I always cross-reference utility interval data with customer energy management systems when possible. Building automation systems, sub-meters, even smart thermostats can provide validation data. Don't rely solely on utility portals for critical analysis.
Bob's advice is solid. I've started requiring clients to provide their own interval data from building management systems as a cross-check. Caught two more Dominion data gaps that way. The good news is their metering department has been very responsive once you get past the call center. Direct email requests are getting 24-hour turnaround now.
Quick update - got an email from Dominion's IT manager saying they're rolling back the portal to the previous version this weekend. Should restore full functionality for interval data exports. They're also implementing additional data validation checks to prevent future corruption. Finally some good news on this mess.
Sandra, that's great news about the rollback. But I'd still recommend manually validating the first few downloads after they restore the system. Sometimes these 'fixes' create new problems. I keep a simple Excel macro that checks for missing timestamps and flags any gaps longer than 15 minutes. Happy to share it if anyone wants a copy.
Pete, I'd love a copy of that validation macro. Send it to my AAUBA email if you don't mind. Testing the restored portal this morning and so far the data looks complete. Downloaded three months of interval data with no missing timestamps. Cautiously optimistic they actually fixed it this time.
Been testing the fixed portal all week and it's working much better. Complete datasets, proper timestamps, files opening correctly. Still doing spot checks against building management data but haven't found any discrepancies. Looks like Dominion finally got their act together. Time to catch up on all those delayed audits.
Agreed Bobby, the system seems stable now. Completed six audit reports this week using the corrected data. Clients are happy to finally get their results. This whole episode is a reminder of how dependent we've become on utility data systems. Maybe time to start building some redundancy into our workflows.
Great collaborative problem-solving everyone. This thread is a perfect example of why this forum is so valuable - when utilities have system issues, we can share workarounds and solutions in real time. I'm adding a section to our best practices guide about data validation and backup sources based on this discussion. Keep sharing these experiences!