How to Use the OpenEI MCP in VS Code Copilot

Q: How do I share the OpenEI configuration in VS Code Copilot?

Simply define your server in a .vscode/mcp.json file inside your project root. Once committed, your team will have immediate access to all 10 tools when they open the repo.

Q: How does OpenEI handle regional utility variations?

The API aggregates data across thousands of providers. Use getutilitydetail to view the specific service area and generation mix for the utilities identified in your project.

Deploy standardized utility rate lookups across your team using the OpenEI MCP Server in VS Code Copilot.

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Connect OpenEI MCP to VS Code Copilot

Create your Vinkius account to connect OpenEI to VS Code Copilot — we handle the hosting, security, and runtime updates so you don't have to. No server setup required.

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Setup OpenEI with VS Code Copilot

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Shared utility intelligence for teams

Commit your `.vscode/mcp.json` to the repository so every developer on your team uses the same `list_utilities` and `search_utilities_by_name` tools. This ensures your entire team builds energy models against consistent, verified utility data.

Direct access to rate structures in VS Code

Use `get_commercial_rates` or `get_industrial_rates` to pull current pricing for your backend services. The agent retrieves the data and helps you implement the billing logic. It turns abstract tariff requirements into concrete, functional code blocks in your editor.

Validate utility data with tool-driven logic

Run `get_utility_detail` to verify service territories and company IDs before running large-scale simulations. Your agent validates the data against the OpenEI registry. This provides a level of data integrity that manual lookups simply cannot match in an enterprise environment.

Setup guide

Set up OpenEI MCP in VS Code Copilot

Prerequisites

VS Code 1.99 or later with GitHub Copilot extension
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP configuration

Open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P) and run "MCP: Add Server". Select HTTP (Streamable) as the server type. VS Code will create .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace.
2

Add the OpenEI MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into your .vscode/mcp.json. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Switch to Agent mode

Open Copilot Chat (Cmd+Shift+I / Ctrl+Shift+I) and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode — they do not appear in Edit or Ask modes.
4

Verify the connection

In the Copilot Chat input, type # to list available tools. You should see the OpenEI tools listed. Try asking: "List my recent OpenEI transactions" and Copilot will invoke them automatically.

.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "openei-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by OpenEI. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about OpenEI MCP in VS Code Copilot

Simply define your server in a `.vscode/mcp.json` file inside your project root. Once committed, your team will have immediate access to all 10 tools when they open the repo.

Yes, it uses standard MCP transport protocols. Your credentials and endpoint tokens stay local to your environment or are managed via secure team-wide variables.

You can instruct the agent to iterate over a list of addresses using `get_rates_by_address`. It will handle the calls and compile the data into your workspace.

No, the server only interacts with OpenEI data. Your local code and proprietary models remain entirely separate from the tool's input and output.

The API aggregates data across thousands of providers. Use `get_utility_detail` to view the specific service area and generation mix for the utilities identified in your project.

Use it with your favorite AI tools

Connect this server to Cursor, Claude, VS Code, and more.

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