To get data directly from your utility provider you will want to establish an exchange data sharing relationship with them so they can import your meter entries into Portfolio Manager on your behalf.
Step 1: Confirm your utility offers this service. There are 3 ways to check this:
- Check your Notifications (in the top nav bar in Portfolio Manager), the "Notices" tab for a message that your Utility is offering this service. If it is, you should see a link to connect.
- Check your Energy tab where there might be a message about connecting to your utility.
- Check this FAQ to see if your utility offers this service: List of Utilities offering Aggregate Data
Step 2: Send a "Connection Request" to your utility in Portfolio Manager. (like sending a Facebook friend request)
- If you have a message in your ENERGY STAR Notifications - click the "connect" link to be led through the process.
OR
- Use the links in this FAQ to contact your utility to get their Portfolio Manager username. (List of Utilities offering Aggregate Data)
- Go to the Contacts page (top right in Portfolio Manager)
- "Search for new contacts" (top right) to find this username
- Once you find your utility's account (web services accounts will be denoted with a chain-link icon), click the blue "Connect" button on the right to send them a connection request.
* Note: each utility may have "terms and conditions" that you will be required to accept in order to submit a connection request. Your utility may also require specific “custom ID” data, in order to verify your identity and authenticate your connection request.
Step 3: Wait for your utility to accept your connection request. When this happens, a notification will appear on your MyPortfolio page to confirm you are now connected.
Step 4: Share your property(ies) with your utility. (Most utilities want you to create the meters and share the meters with them. But, some utilities create the meters for you.)
- Go to the Sharing tab
- Click "Share with your Utility or Service Provider for exchanging data"
- Under "Select Web Services Provider," select your utility from the drop down list
- Under "Select Properties," choose the property(ies) that you'd like your utility to update
- Under "Choose Permissions," select “Exchange Data Full Access” or "Exchange Date Custom Access" (if you want to limit the meters your utility can access)
- At the bottom of the page click "Authorize Exchange"
* Note: your utility may also request additional information via custom fields at this stage. Custom fields are open text fields that allow you to enter additional information about a property or meter. Please see your utility’s website or information in this FAQ: List of Utilities offering Aggregate Data and contact them directly if you have questions about the information they require.
If you were routed to the sharing template from the Data Exchange set-up page then be sure to select the "Individualized" permission levels as opposed to the "Bulk" option so you're taken to the right set-up page instead.
Step 5: Wait for your utility to accept your properties. Once they do, you will receive notifications in your account confirming that the properties and meters are now shared with the utility’s account.