# Post-Installation > Post-Installation means the phase after setting up a system or service until the first receipt of a smart meter log or identified issue **Term:** Post-Installation **Last updated:** 2026-07-29 ## Definition ## What Post-Installation Means in a Contract Post-Installation refers to the period that starts immediately after a system, device, or service has been physically or technically set up, and it runs until a defined trigger event occurs, such as the first receipt of a smart meter log, a diagnostic reading, or the identification of an issue. This phase acts as a bridge between the completion of installation work and the start of steady-state operation or ongoing service delivery. Contracts use this term to separate two distinct sets of obligations: those tied to getting a system operational, and those tied to keeping it running correctly over time. The concept matters because many contractual duties, such as warranties, support response times, or billing arrangements, do not begin at the moment of physical installation but only once the system has demonstrated that it is functioning. By defining a Post-Installation phase, parties create a buffer during which initial calibration, testing, or data verification can occur without immediately triggering full contractual performance standards. This is especially common in