How do I score the three data quality ratings in a Partnership for Carbon Transparency (PACT) footprint for an Indian plant?

PACT scores technology, geography and time, each from 1 (best) to 5 (worst), then weights each by the input's share of the footprint. A figure from the site's own state is the best geographic score. A figure ending within a year of your reference period scores 1 for time.

What the three scores ask

• Technology: does the data describe the exact machine or process? 1 is plant-specific, 2 is company-specific same technology, 3 is an average for the same technology and is the best a secondary figure can reach, 4 is a similar technology, 5 is different or unknown.
• Geography: 1 is the country subdivision where the product is made (or the country where no subdivision applies), 2 is the country, 3 is the region such as Asia, 4 is a global average, 5 is unknown or not covering your site.
• Time: the gap between the end of the figure's reference period and the end of your footprint's. Up to 1 year is 1, over 1 and up to 2 is 2, up to 3 is 3, up to 4 is 4, over 4 or unknown is 5.

For an Indian site (our reading)

PACT's list of country subdivisions includes states in India. PACT's California example gives a United States (US) average a 2, so an all-India average for an Indian site would also score 2, and a state-level figure 1. Global averages score 4.

Averaging

Each score is weighted by that input's share of the absolute footprint excluding biogenic uptake. With more than one site, weight the scores by production volume. If an upstream score is unknown, PACT says to use 5 for each. PACT says companies shall calculate these from 2027 onwards. Its footnote says they should calculate and report them, and that they are only required by 31 December 2027.

Not the same as the European method

The data quality score on the general page here comes from the European product method, with four parts. PACT's has three. The scales look alike, but do not compare the numbers.

Time score and a weighted average

• Time: grid factor ends 31 March 2024, your footprint ends 31 March 2026. Gap 730 days, inside the 731 day limit of rating 2, so the score is 2
• PACT's own example: three inputs at 25%, 30% and 45% of the footprint, technology scores 2, 2 and 1
• Weighted: 2 x 0.25 + 2 x 0.30 + 1 x 0.45 = 0.50 + 0.60 + 0.45 = 1.55
• Same inputs, time scores 1, 5 and 2: 0.25 + 1.50 + 0.90 = 2.65. Geography scores 2, 2 and 3: 0.50 + 0.60 + 1.35 = 2.45

The first line uses example dates. The weighted example uses the figures printed in PACT Table 13, and the sums above match its printed 1.55, 2.65 and 2.45.

What Senseible does here

Senseible reads fuel invoices and electricity bills into monthly records, so the period your energy data covers is easy to see. The scores are yours to set. Senseible builds figures in the PACT exchange format as a custom integration, on request.

• Data quality rating on a European product method
• When your supplier data is unknown
• Primary data share
• Electricity factor under PACT

Sources: PACT Methodology Version 3.0, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

Last reviewed 2026-11-07. Matrix is from PACT Methodology 3.0, section 4.2.3, Tables 12 and 13. The India reading is ours; confirm with your buyer how it scores a state-level or all-India figure.