> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.nectarclimate.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect a utility account

> Step-by-step guide to connecting an online utility portal to Nectar.

<Tip>
  Need help in this area? See [Data Input FAQ](/platform/data-input/faq).
</Tip>

Navigate to [**Data Input > Connections > New Connection**](https://dash.nectarclimate.com/data-input/connections/new) to launch the connection wizard.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enter provider URL">
    Paste or search for the utility provider's website URL. This is the login page where you normally sign in to view your utility account online.

    <Tip>
      You can paste the full login page URL or just the provider's homepage — Nectar will resolve it automatically.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm URL">
    Nectar validates the URL and displays the detected provider name. Confirm that the provider shown matches your utility company before proceeding.

    If the detected provider doesn't look right, go back and double-check the URL you entered.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign in">
    Enter your utility portal credentials (username and password) in the embedded browser view. Nectar uses these credentials to log in on your behalf and collect bill data.

    <Warning>
      Credentials are encrypted at rest and in transit. Nectar never stores plaintext passwords.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure">
    Configure how Nectar collects data from this connection:

    * **Sites** — Select which sites are associated with this utility account.
    * **Datasource types** — Choose the commodity types to collect (Electricity, Gas, Water, Waste, etc.).
    * **Data collection start date** — Set how far back Nectar should retrieve historical bills.
    * **Owner email** — Assign an owner who will receive notifications about this connection.
  </Step>
</Steps>

If the utility requires multi-factor authentication, the wizard adds an MFA configuration step after sign-in. See [Multi-factor authentication (MFA)](/platform/data-input/mfa) for details on each MFA option and utility-specific setup guides.

After completing the wizard, Nectar begins collecting bills in the background. You can monitor progress from the [Connections](/platform/data-input/connections) list.