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title: "Create, Modify or Delete a Ration Period"
canonical: "https://docs.rubiconwater.com/space/PNC/2053603643/Create%2C%20Modify%20or%20Delete%20a%20Ration%20Period"
format: markdown
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> Macro (toc)

# Creating a Ration Period

Follow these steps to create and save a ration period for a Planning Area:

**Step 1**

In the [https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/NWNC/pages/2000978506](https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/NWNC/pages/2000978506) select the Planning Area where you want to apply rationing and open the Ration Periods tab.

**Step 2**

Enter the following details:

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| **Property** | **Description** |
| Start/End Date | Enter the start and end date of the period. You can enter a start date in the past but existing orders that fall within the period will not be rationed.<br>You don't have to enter an end date. If you don't, rationing will continue until you do. |
| Cycle Length (days) | You must enter a cycle length.<br>Use this property to divide the ration period into multiple cycles to distribute water use more evenly over the ration period. The system will calculate the maximum amount of water that can be delivered in each cycle. |
| Cycle Type | This property controls when the rationing cycles begin:<br>- Fixed cycle - the first cycle always begins at the start of the Ration Period.
- Rolling cycle - for each authorisation the first cycle starts when the first rationed order is placed for that authorisation.<br>Note that a cycle can't extend beyond the end of the Ration Period if an end date for the period has been set.<br>The default cycle type is Fixed. |
| Delivery Share % | Specifies a factor by which the available water is multiplied to give the ration allocation.<br>It is possible to enter a value that is greater than 100% |

**Step 3**

Click the **Insert **button to create a new ration period and fill in the details. Then click **Save** to save the ration period.

Rationing will now apply to any new orders that fall within the ration period.

## What Happens to Orders that were Placed Before Rationing was Applied?

- Orders that were placed before the ration period was applied are not affected by rationing although they do have *Rationed* status and are subject to rules that apply to changing the order.
- If an order is later modified or rescheduled so that it falls within a ration period then it will become subject to rationing.

> ℹ️ **Example**
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ For example, this might happen if:
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ - An unsatisfied or unscheduled order is brought into a plan where it is subject to rationing.
> ℹ️ - The start or end date of an order is changed so that it overlaps with a ration period.
> ℹ️ - An order that was unrationed because it was lodged before the period was created is later changed in some way - for example, by changing the order flow rate.

# Modifying or Deleting a Ration Period

You can modify or delete a ration period but this will not change any orders that have already been lodged and rationed. If you want to change the amount of water supplied to those orders you must modify them manually in the [https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PNC/pages/2018639901](https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PNC/pages/2018639901).

> ℹ️ Note
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ You can use the [https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PNC/pages/2053439598](https://rubiconwater.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PNC/pages/2053439598) to calculate the effects of different rationing parameters before you make manual changes to orders.

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