How to use UtilityAPI: your quick start guide

Getting started with UtilityAPI is fast, simple, and designed to get you the utility data you need — with customer permission — in just a few clicks. Here's how it works:

• Users send an authorization request to their customer through our dashboard or API.

• The customer completes the authorization form, linking their utility account and associated meters to our platform.

• UtilityAPI retrieves the data from those meters and makes it available in your dashboard.

Let’s walk through each step in more detail:

Step 1: Sending an Authorization Form to your Customer

Before you can access a customer’s utility data, they need to authorize the connection. Each UtilityAPI account includes a unique authorization form link you can send however you prefer:

• Email – Drop the link into your customer communications.

• Text Message – Send it directly to their phone.

• In Person – Open the link on your device while on-site with a customer. 

• Embed – Include your account's authorization form in your onboarding flow.

Step 2: Customer Completes the Authorization Form

Once your customer receives the form, they’ll follow a secure, step-by-step process:

1. Enter their email address.

2. Select their utility provider.

3. Authenticate themselves via log in credentials or other option 

4. Click Authorize Access.

All data is encrypted and securely stored. Once submitted, UtilityAPI will automatically link their utility account and send you an email notification when it’s successfully connected.

Each successful authorization will include:

• A list of utility meters on the the customer's utility account.

• Details like the service address, servie tariff, meter number,  and SAID for each meter.

• We call the list of utility meters and details noted above our Meter Data product.

Step 3: Activate Meters and Get Data 

With authorization complete, it’s time to get data. Once you have identified which meter or meters you want data from, you'll want to activate them by:  

1. Clicking the blue “Get Data” button next to the meter.

2. Choosing how many months of data you’d like — from 1 to 36 months.

3. Clicking “Get Data” again to begin data collection.

Once the data is ready, a green “See Data” button will appear. Click it to view or download everything we’ve retrieved — including bill data, interval data, and more.

Interested in automating all of this? Our API Quick Start Guide has everything you need to get started programmatically.