Our Green Button proxy method utilizes a utility’s data-sharing platform, such as Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E’s) Share My Data platform, to complete the authorization and data transmission process.
Each utility’s data-sharing platform requires a registration and server hosting process that can take three (3) to twelve (12) months to complete. Our Green Button Proxy method eliminates this process by allowing users to make data collections via UtilityAPI’s approved registration.
Authorization permission flow
The Green Button proxy authorization process combines a UtilityAPI branded authorization form and the utility account holders' online account log-in process. This process is bulleted below:
- A user sends a UAH a link to a UtilityAPI branded authorization form that includes their email and company name;
- On the authorization form, the UAH confirms their email and name and clicks the “Continue to Final Step” button;
- The UAH is redirected to the utility’s account login page, where they enter their username and password to access the utility’s data-sharing platform;
- On the utility’s data-sharing platform, the UAH specifies what data they want to share with UtilityAPI and completes the process.
- The UAH is redirected to the UtilityAPI branded auth form, where they click the “Continue to Final Step” button again to authorize data sharing between UtilityAPI and the identified user.
By completing the authorization process, the UAH authorizes the utility to share its utility data with UtilityAPI and authorizes UtilityAPI to share the transmitted data with the identified user.
Data transmission method
Once UtilityAPI successfully receives proxy authorization, our software collects data from the utility data-sharing platform via the utilities API, and formats the available data into our four standard products, including:
- Meter data,
- Bill data,
- Interval data,
- Accounting data
Currently, no utility data-sharing platform makes Bill PDFs available over their API.
Supported utilities:
- Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)
- Southern California Edison (SCE)