UtilityAPI MCP Server for VS Code Copilot 12 tools — connect in under 2 minutes
GitHub Copilot in VS Code is the most widely adopted AI coding assistant, embedded directly into the world's most popular code editor. With MCP support in Agent mode, Copilot can access external data and APIs to generate context-aware code grounded in real-time information.
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{
"mcpServers": {
"utilityapi": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
}
}
}
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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 — including PG&E, Southern California Edison, Con Edison, National Grid, and more — through a single unified API.
GitHub Copilot Agent mode brings UtilityAPI data directly into your VS Code workflow. With a project-scoped config, the entire team shares access to 12 tools. Copilot queries live data, generates typed code, and writes tests from actual API responses, all without leaving the editor.
What you can do
- Supported Utilities — List all 100+ utility companies available through the platform with their codes and data types
- Customer Authorizations — Create and manage authorization forms for customers to securely share their utility data
- Meter Management — List all authorized utility meters (service points) with addresses, fuel types, and collection status
- Billing History — Retrieve complete billing history with costs, usage amounts (kWh/therms), and billing periods
- Usage Intervals — Access granular smart meter interval data (15-min or hourly readings) for detailed energy analysis
- Historical Collection — Activate backfilling of historical utility data for newly authorized meters
- Combined Meter Data — Get both bills and intervals in a single call for comprehensive energy analysis
- Event Monitoring — Monitor webhook events for authorization flows, data collection status, and errors
- Demo Testing — Test authorization forms with simulated residential and commercial scenarios before production
- Billing Summaries — Track API usage costs and billing periods for your UtilityAPI account
The UtilityAPI MCP Server exposes 12 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to VS Code Copilot in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.
How to Connect UtilityAPI to VS Code Copilot via MCP
Follow these steps to integrate the UtilityAPI MCP Server with VS Code Copilot.
Create MCP config
Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your project root
Add the server config
Paste the JSON configuration above
Enable Agent mode
Open GitHub Copilot Chat and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown
Start using UtilityAPI
Ask Copilot: "Using UtilityAPI, help me...". 12 tools available
Why Use VS Code Copilot with the UtilityAPI MCP Server
GitHub Copilot for Visual Studio Code provides unique advantages when paired with UtilityAPI through the Model Context Protocol.
VS Code is used by over 70% of developers. adding MCP tools to Copilot means your team can leverage external data without leaving their primary editor
Project-scoped MCP configs (`.vscode/mcp.json`) let you commit server configurations to your repository, ensuring the entire team shares the same tool access
Copilot's Agent mode integrates MCP tools seamlessly with file editing, terminal commands, and workspace search in a single agentic loop
GitHub's enterprise compliance and audit features extend to MCP tool usage, providing visibility into how AI interacts with external services
UtilityAPI + VS Code Copilot Use Cases
Practical scenarios where VS Code Copilot combined with the UtilityAPI MCP Server delivers measurable value.
Live API integration: Copilot can query an MCP server, inspect the response schema, and generate typed API client code in the same step
DevSecOps workflows: security teams can give developers access to domain intelligence tools directly in their editor for real-time vulnerability assessment during code review
Data pipeline development: Copilot fetches sample data via MCP and generates transformation scripts, validators, and test fixtures from actual API responses
Documentation generation: Copilot queries available tools and auto-generates README sections, API reference docs, and usage examples
UtilityAPI MCP Tools for VS Code Copilot (12)
These 12 tools become available when you connect UtilityAPI to VS Code Copilot 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 — 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 — 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 — 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 — both the financial (billing) and technical (usage patterns) aspects — 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 VS Code Copilot
Ready-to-use prompts you can give your VS Code Copilot 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 VS Code Copilot
Common issues when connecting UtilityAPI to VS Code Copilot through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.
MCP tools not available
UtilityAPI + VS Code Copilot FAQ
Common questions about integrating UtilityAPI MCP Server with VS Code Copilot.
Which VS Code version supports MCP?
How do I switch to Agent mode?
Can I restrict which MCP tools Copilot can access?
Does MCP work in VS Code Remote or Codespaces?
.vscode/mcp.json work in Remote SSH, WSL, and GitHub Codespaces environments. The MCP connection is established from the remote host, so ensure the server URL is accessible from that environment.Connect UtilityAPI with your favorite client
Step-by-step setup guides for every MCP-compatible client and framework:
Anthropic's native desktop app for Claude with built-in MCP support.
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GitHub Copilot in VS Code with Agent mode and MCP support.
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Google's framework for building production AI agents.
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TypeScript toolkit for building AI-powered web applications.
TypeScript-native agent framework for modern web stacks.
Python framework for orchestrating collaborative AI agent crews.
Leading Python framework for composable LLM applications.
Data-aware AI agent framework for structured and unstructured sources.
Microsoft's framework for multi-agent collaborative conversations.
Connect UtilityAPI to VS Code Copilot
Get your token, paste the configuration, and start using 12 tools in under 2 minutes. No API key management needed.