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A Note from the Team
Commissioning is where metering projects often get more expensive than expected.
Not because of one major issue, but because of all the small tasks that stack up along the way: assigning channels, labeling loads, mapping communications, configuring software, and validating that everything is working the way it should. On larger multi-circuit installations, those steps can quickly turn into real labor cost.
That is also one reason so many experienced professionals choose DENT. For years, our meters have earned a reputation for being easier to install, easier to integrate, and easier to commission than many of the alternatives. Contractors, integrators, and facility teams know that reducing friction during setup does more than save time. It helps protect margin, reduce callbacks, and get to usable data faster.
In the sections that follow, we will look at some of the biggest opportunities to reduce commissioning effort on multi-circuit metering projects — and how the upcoming DENT innovations can help save as much as 30% on commissioning.
—The DENT Instruments Team
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Five Ways Commissioning Gets Expensive
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Before we show you how to save 30% on commissioning, let’s start with identifying where that time and cost tend to build. Most delays come from routine setup and integration tasks that seem minor on their own, but quickly add labor across a multi-circuit project.
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1) You end up configuring around the meter
Some systems force installers to work within rigid channel structures and make CT selection impossible. That means more time spent adapting the configuration instead of simply matching the real-world install.
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2) It gets hard to tell which load is which When load names do not carry cleanly from the meter to the BMS or data platform, teams spend extra time figuring out what matches what. That slows commissioning and makes integration more error-prone.
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3) Integration turns into point-by-point cleanup
The hardware may be installed, but the job is not done until the data makes sense upstream. When communications are complicated, integrators end up spending too much time mapping, checking, and fixing what should have been straightforward.
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4) Commissioning requires your most experienced technician
Some systems are so complicated to set up that commissioning has to be handed to the person with the most experience. That drives up labor cost and can slow projects down when the right technician is not available. Better tools make setup easier, faster, and more repeatable — reducing the expertise required to get the job done right.
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5) Every change becomes a delay
Real projects move. Loads shift, labels change, and late-stage adjustments happen. When making those changes is difficult, the whole commissioning process starts to drag.
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How to Cut 30% Out of Commissioning
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So how do you save 30% on commissioning? You start with a meter designed to reduce commissioning time from the ground up.
You start with the PowerScout FLEX.
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Virtual Meters eliminate rigid channel grouping
PowerScout FLEX lets you assign any channel, or any combination of channels, as its own Virtual Meter. That means less time working around fixed meter structures and more time matching the system to the job.
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Named Virtual Meters make loads easier to track
Each Virtual Meter has its own name, making it easier to keep loads organized from setup through integration. That reduces time spent figuring out which point is which across systems.
Flattened Modbus simplifies integration
With the optional flattened Modbus register map, all Virtual Meters can be accessed through a single device. That can reduce point-mapping effort, simplify handoff, and help lower software licensing costs.
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FLEXPoint reduces the expertise required
FLEXPoint is designed to make commissioning faster, easier, and more intuitive. That helps reduce dependence on your most experienced technician and makes setup more repeatable across teams.
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FLEXPoint GO makes field changes faster
FLEXPoint GO makes it easy to commission and validate on the fly without installing PC software. That means faster field adjustments, easier remote support, and fewer delays during handoff.
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Where the 30% Savings Comes From
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If you want to know where the savings comes from, start with commissioning labor.
Timed testing showed that previous-generation commissioning averaged 5:22 per load (assuming all available information is accurate). With FLEXPoint, that dropped to 3:10 per load. That is 2:12 saved on every load, or about 41% faster commissioning per point.
Multiply that across a real job and the labor savings become obvious.
On a 16-load panel, FLEXPoint saves more than 35 minutes.
On a 24-load panel, it saves nearly 53 minutes.
On a 48-load panel, it saves more than 1 hour 45 minutes.
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That is the primary source of the 30% savings claim.
In some projects, FLEX can reduce hardware cost and save even more. Thanks to DENT’s new Virtual Meter Architecture, PowerScout FLEX can often match the actual load mix more efficiently than fixed-element designs. That means some applications can be handled with a smaller FLEX meter instead of a larger traditional meter, reducing both unused inputs and meter cost.
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So while the headline is about saving 30% on commissioning, the total project savings can be even greater when FLEX also reduces hardware overbuy.
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Have a question?
Ask the DENT Sales team or reach out to Technical Support!
Dent Instruments has an exceptional customer success and account management team available to handle any questions.
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How Are We Doing?
At DENT, we’re committed to continually improving how we serve you—from product experience to technical support to long-term reliability. Your feedback helps us do just that.
We invite you to take our quick, two-question Customer Satisfaction Survey to let us know what we’re doing well—and where we can do better.
👉 Share Your Feedback
It only takes a minute, and your insights go directly to our leadership and support teams. Thanks for helping us raise the bar.
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For Technical Support:
Our dedicated technical support team is here to help with your troubleshooting and setup needs.
Let us know how we can assist you!
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Need technical updates?
Join our Product Change Notice mailing list.
Stay informed about critical product changes and advancements that continue to drive innovation and performance.
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Visit us at: dentinstruments.com
Call us: 1-541-388-4774
Hours of operation:
Mon – Fri 8am – 5pm PST
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