How To Fix EL406 - Correct the start date for period consumption validity

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: EL - IS-U meter reading data processing

• Message number: 406

• Message text: Correct the start date for period consumption validity

What causes this issue?

You have defined a new period consumption from a date that is more than
a day before the last meter reading.
This causes the forecast period to be divided into two sub intervals for
the calculation of the expected consumption. The connection between the
expected consumption and the associated period consumption is no longer
clear.
Example
Date,,Period Consumption
02.01.,,5000 kWh/year
15.12.,,1000 kWh/year

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

Date,,Meter Reading Result
31.10.,,1000 kWh
30.11.,,1200 kWh
31.12.,,Forecast Date
The period consumption was defined again during the forecast period. The
expected consumption is calculated from the expected consumptions for
the sub intervals from 01.12. to 14.12. and from 15.12. to 31.12.
In the case of the first sub interval, the period consumption of 5000
kWh/year that is valid as of 02.01 is used as the basis here (or the
actual meter reading results if these are representative) and the period
consumption of 1000 kWh/year that is valid as of 15.12 is used for the
second sub interval.

How to fix this error?

We recommend defining the period consumption on the day on which a meter
reading result is entered, particularly in the case of installation or
move-in meter readings (in which case the period consumption applies to
the entire forecast period) or a day later (in which case it also
applies to the budget billing plan for the subsequent period).

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message EL406 - Correct the start date for period consumption validity ?

  The SAP error message EL406, "Correct the start date for period consumption validity," typically occurs in the context of managing validity periods for certain data entries, such as master data or transactional data in SAP. This error indicates that there is an issue with the start date defined for a period of validity, which is not aligned with the expected parameters.
  Cause:
  
  Invalid Start Date: The start date for the validity period may be set incorrectly, such as being in the past or overlapping with another validity period.
  Configuration Issues: There may be configuration settings in the system that dictate how validity periods should be managed, and these settings may not be aligned with the data being entered.
  Data Entry Errors: Users may have entered the start date incorrectly, leading to inconsistencies in the data.
  
  Solution:
  
  Check Validity Dates: Review the start date for the period consumption validity. Ensure that it is set correctly and does not conflict with existing validity periods.
  Adjust Dates: If the start date is incorrect, modify it to a valid date that aligns with the business rules and system requirements.
  Review Configuration: If the issue persists, check the configuration settings related to validity periods in the relevant SAP module (e.g., Material Management, Sales and Distribution). Ensure that the settings are appropriate for your business processes.
  Consult Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation or help resources for specific guidelines on managing validity periods in your version of SAP.
  Seek Help from SAP Support: If you are unable to resolve the issue, consider reaching out to SAP support or your internal SAP team for further assistance.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Depending on the context, you may need to use specific transaction codes to access the relevant data or configuration settings (e.g., MM01 for material master, VA01 for sales orders).
  User Roles: Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to make changes to validity periods in the system.
  Testing Changes: After making adjustments, test the changes in a development or quality environment before applying them to production to avoid further issues.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the EL406 error and ensure that the validity periods are correctly set in your SAP system.