4. Set Up Data Exchange With Utility Provider(s) In ESPM

If you are setting up an automatic data exchange with your utility provider, you will need to add the utility provider as a contact in ESPM. You can skip this step if you are planning to enter your energy use information manually.

Before setting up the data exchange, please ensure all of the meters accounting for the building’s total energy consumption have been added to the property profile.

4.1 BC Hydro customers - set up data exchange with BC Hydro

Before enrolling in BC Hydro’s Web Services, ensure that:

• All of the meters accounting for the building’s total energy consumption have been added to the property profile

• You have collected the validation details for each meter. You will need your billing Account Number and the Bill Date and Total Cost amount (including cents) from your latest bill

BC Hydro online bill example

BC Hydro paper bill example

Please refer to BC Hydro Web Services’ user guide for instructions on how to set up a meter sync in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (BC Hydro User Guide).

4.2 FortisBC customers - set up data exchange with FortisBC

FortisBC data exchange can be set up for one natural gas meter per building. You simply need the Fortis BC account number, point of delivery number, and previous bill total to receive up to 36 months of historic data into your account, which can then be easily shared (FortisBC User Guide).

STEP 1 - Under the Energy tab for the property, click “Add a Meter” to create the natural gas meter(s) for the building.

STEP 2 - To set up a natural gas meter sync, you must connect with Fortis BC as a contact. Click on the ‘Contacts link’ at the top right hand corner of the page, which takes you to your My Contacts list. Then, click ‘Add New Contacts/Connections’.

STEP 3 - Search for “FortisBC natural gas.” Click Connect, enter your FortisBC account number, and carefully read FortisBC’s terms and conditions for the transfer and use of your data between FortisBC and Portfolio Manager. If you agree, click Send Connection Request.

The top of the next page will show a green bar, confirming your connection request was sent to Fortis BC. 

Note: You are not yet connected to Fortis BC until your request is accepted. You will receive a notification in Portfolio Manager when Fortis BC accepts your request. This process takes up to 24 hours.

STEP 4 - After the connection with FortisBC is accepted, go to the Sharing tab in Portfolio Manager to select the properties and natural gas meters you want data uploaded for. This is where you’ll set up custom permissions and sharing, and validate each meter with your FortisBC account number(s), last bill date and amount.

• In the Sharing tab, click 'Share with your Utility or Service Provider for exchanging data'

• Select the radio button for Personalized Sharing ("Custom Orders")

• Select the radio button for 'Exchange Data'
  

• In the pop-up window, enter your FortisBC Account number

• Select "full access" sharing to your meters. Meters with "read-only" permissions will not be accepted by FortisBC

• For the Share Forward option, select the radio button for 'No'

• Click 'Apply Selections & Authorize Exchange'

STEP 5 - Your request to receive your natural gas consumption data will be processed in one to two business days. You will receive up to 36 months of historical consumption data for each meter, and after that you will receive monthly automatic updates in Portfolio Manager.

For more information, please refer to FortisBC's ESPM user guide (FortisBC User Guide), contact your FortisBC key account manager, or email commercial.energy@fortisbc.com

Do you have a question or need assistance? Contact us by email or visit the Building Benchmark BC Website for more information.