UtilityAPI MCP Server for Claude Desktop 12 tools β connect in under 2 minutes
Claude Desktop is Anthropic's native application for interacting with Claude AI models on macOS and Windows. It was the first consumer application to ship with built-in MCP support, making it the reference implementation for the Model Context Protocol standard.
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{
"mcpServers": {
"utilityapi": {
// Your Vinkius token. get it at cloud.vinkius.com
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
}
}
}
* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure
About UtilityAPI MCP Server
Connect UtilityAPI to any AI agent and access utility billing history, granular usage intervals, and meter data from over 100 US utility companies β including PG&E, Southern California Edison, Con Edison, National Grid, and more β through a single unified API.
Claude Desktop is the definitive way to connect UtilityAPI to your AI workflow. Add Vinkius Edge URL to your config, restart the app, and Claude immediately exposes all 12 tools in the chat interface. ask a question, Claude calls the right tool, and you see the answer. Zero code, zero context switching.
What you can do
- Supported Utilities β List all 100+ utility companies available through the platform with their codes and data types
- Customer Authorizations β Create and manage authorization forms for customers to securely share their utility data
- Meter Management β List all authorized utility meters (service points) with addresses, fuel types, and collection status
- Billing History β Retrieve complete billing history with costs, usage amounts (kWh/therms), and billing periods
- Usage Intervals β Access granular smart meter interval data (15-min or hourly readings) for detailed energy analysis
- Historical Collection β Activate backfilling of historical utility data for newly authorized meters
- Combined Meter Data β Get both bills and intervals in a single call for comprehensive energy analysis
- Event Monitoring β Monitor webhook events for authorization flows, data collection status, and errors
- Demo Testing β Test authorization forms with simulated residential and commercial scenarios before production
- Billing Summaries β Track API usage costs and billing periods for your UtilityAPI account
The UtilityAPI MCP Server exposes 12 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Claude Desktop in under two minutes β no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.
How to Connect UtilityAPI to Claude Desktop via MCP
Follow these steps to integrate the UtilityAPI MCP Server with Claude Desktop.
Open Claude Desktop Settings
Go to Settings β Developer β Edit Config to open claude_desktop_config.json
Add the MCP Server
Paste the configuration above into the mcpServers section
Restart Claude Desktop
Close and reopen Claude Desktop to load the new server
Start using UtilityAPI
Look for the π icon in the chat. your 12 tools are now available
Why Use Claude Desktop with the UtilityAPI MCP Server
Claude Desktop by Anthropic provides unique advantages when paired with UtilityAPI through the Model Context Protocol.
Claude Desktop is the reference MCP client. it was designed alongside the protocol itself, ensuring the most complete and stable MCP implementation available
Zero-code configuration: add a server URL to a JSON file and Claude instantly discovers and exposes all available tools in the chat interface
Claude's extended thinking capability lets it reason through multi-step tool usage, chaining multiple API calls to answer complex questions
Enterprise-grade security with local config storage. your tokens never leave your machine, and connections go directly to Vinkius Edge network
UtilityAPI + Claude Desktop Use Cases
Practical scenarios where Claude Desktop combined with the UtilityAPI MCP Server delivers measurable value.
Interactive data exploration: ask Claude to query DNS records, look up WHOIS data, and cross-reference results in a single conversation
Ad-hoc security audits: type a domain name and let Claude enumerate subdomains, check DNS history, and flag configuration anomalies. all through natural language
Executive briefings: generate comprehensive domain intelligence reports by asking Claude to compile findings into a formatted summary
Learning and training: new team members can explore API capabilities conversationally without needing to read documentation
UtilityAPI MCP Tools for Claude Desktop (12)
These 12 tools become available when you connect UtilityAPI to Claude Desktop via MCP:
activate_historical_collection
Send an array of meter_uids (from list_meters) to begin backfilling historical data. Once activated, the system will start collecting all available historical data for those meters. Use this after a new customer authorization to ensure you get their complete usage history, not just future data. Data collection may take time depending on the utility and data availability. Activate historical data collection for specific utility meters
create_auth_form
Returns a form_uid that can be used to redirect customers to the authorization flow. The utilityCode parameter must be a valid utility code (from list_utilities). Optional scenario parameter controls the test mode: "residential" (home customer), "commercial" (business customer), or other utility-specific scenarios. Use this to set up new data sharing agreements with utility customers. Create a new authorization form for customers to share their utility data
get_billing_summaries
Includes billing periods, costs, and meter counts for your UtilityAPI subscription. Optional meterId parameter retrieves summary for a specific meter. Use this to track API usage costs and understand billing periods for your UtilityAPI account. Get billing account summaries for UtilityAPI accounting
get_bills
Returns utility bills with: start/end dates, total cost (in dollars), energy usage (kWh for electric, therms for gas), utility name, and meter association. The meters parameter is required β provide a single meter UID or comma-separated multiple UIDs. Use this to analyze customer spending on utilities, identify high-cost periods, or provide billing insights. Bills are only available for meters that have been authorized and are actively collecting data. Get utility billing history for authorized meters
get_events
Events include: new authorization created, meter data available, collection completed, errors, etc. Use this to monitor the status of data collection workflows, debug authorization issues, or build real-time notifications for when customer data becomes available. Get webhook events from UtilityAPI (authorizations, data collection status)
get_form_templates
Templates define what information is collected during the customer authorization process. Use this to understand available form configurations before creating custom authorization forms. Each template has a unique ID used when creating new forms. Get authorization form templates used for customer data sharing
get_intervals
This is granular consumption data showing energy usage over time intervals (typically 15-minute or hourly readings from smart meters). Each interval includes: start/end timestamp, usage value (kWh or therms), and cost information. The meters parameter is required β provide meter UID(s). Use this for detailed energy analysis, identifying peak usage patterns, demand response analysis, or building energy models. This is more granular than bills β ideal for time-series analysis. Get detailed usage interval data (hourly/15-min) for authorized meters
get_meter_data
This is a convenience tool that combines results from get_bills and get_intervals for one meter. Returns: complete bill history (dates, costs, usage) plus granular interval data (time-series readings). Use this when you need a complete picture of a customer's utility data β both the financial (billing) and technical (usage patterns) aspects β for comprehensive energy analysis. The meterUid must be a valid meter UID from list_meters. Get combined billing and interval data for a specific meter in one call
list_authorizations
Each authorization represents a customer who has granted access to their utility data. Optional referrals parameter filters by a specific referral code (from test submissions). Set includeMeters=true to also return associated meter data with each authorization. Use this to track which customers have authorized data access and get their referral codes for meter queries. List all customer data sharing authorizations
list_meters
Each meter represents a specific utility service connection (electricity or gas) at a customer location. Meter data includes: utility name, service address, fuel type (electric/gas), collection status, and the unique meter_uid used for fetching bills and intervals. Optional authorizationId filters meters to a specific customer authorization. Use the meter_uid with get_bills and get_intervals to retrieve usage data. List all authorized utility meters (service points)
list_utilities
Each utility includes its name, utility code (used for form submissions), and supported data types. Use this to find the correct utility code when creating authorization forms or querying utility-specific data. Common utilities include: PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric), SCE (Southern California Edison), Con Edison, National Grid, and many others across the US. List all supported utility companies available through UtilityAPI
test_form_submission
Returns a referral_code that can be used to retrieve the test authorization and associated meter data. Use this during development and testing to verify form configurations work correctly before deploying to production. The formId is the uid returned by create_auth_form. The referral_code returned can be used with list_authorizations to retrieve test data. Test an authorization form to simulate customer authorization and get a referral code
Example Prompts for UtilityAPI in Claude Desktop
Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Claude Desktop agent to start working with UtilityAPI immediately.
"List all supported utility companies."
"Get the billing history for meter 44445555."
"Show me the usage intervals for my authorized PG&E meters."
Troubleshooting UtilityAPI MCP Server with Claude Desktop
Common issues when connecting UtilityAPI to Claude Desktop through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.
Server not appearing after restart
~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\\Claude\\ (Windows).Authentication error
Tools not showing in chat
UtilityAPI + Claude Desktop FAQ
Common questions about integrating UtilityAPI MCP Server with Claude Desktop.
How does Claude Desktop discover MCP tools?
claude_desktop_config.json file and connects to each configured MCP server. It calls the tools/list endpoint to fetch the schema for every available tool, then surfaces them as clickable options in the chat interface via the π icon.What happens if the MCP server is temporarily unavailable?
Can I connect multiple MCP servers simultaneously?
mcpServers section of the config file. Each server appears as a separate tool provider, and Claude can use tools from multiple servers in a single conversation turn.Is there a limit on the number of tools per server?
Does Claude Desktop support Streamable HTTP transport?
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Data-aware AI agent framework for structured and unstructured sources.
Microsoft's framework for multi-agent collaborative conversations.
Connect UtilityAPI to Claude Desktop
Get your token, paste the configuration, and start using 12 tools in under 2 minutes. No API key management needed.