Video walkthrough coming soon. A Loom video demonstrating this feature will be added here.
What is a magic link?
A magic link is a special web address you can send to whoever will connect the account — by email, text message, or even embedded in your own website. When they click it, they see a secure page where they can log into their utility account. Nectar handles everything behind the scenes: capturing the login, setting up the connection, and starting to collect bills automatically. The key part? They don’t need a Nectar account. They don’t need to download anything, create a login, or understand what Nectar is. They just click a link, sign into their utility like they normally would, and they’re done.Screenshot coming soon. A screenshot of this feature will be added here.
Why use magic links?
There are two common situations where magic links are the best approach: You don’t have the utility login yet. Maybe you’re onboarding someone new and they haven’t shared their credentials. Instead of asking for a username and password (which can feel uncomfortable for both sides), you send a magic link. They enter their own credentials directly into the secure page. You never see the password. They prefer to enter credentials themselves. Some organizations — especially larger enterprises or those with strict security policies — don’t want to share login information with a third party. Magic links let them stay in control while still getting the benefit of automated data collection. It’s the same result as creating a connection yourself, just with a different workflow that puts them in the driver’s seat.Two types of magic links
| Type | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Company magic link | Creates a new connection for a company. | When onboarding an account for the first time. You’re saying: “Hey, click this link to connect your utility account so we can start collecting your data.” |
| Connection update magic link | Updates an existing connection. | When a connection hit an error — like a changed password or expired MFA code. You’re saying: “Click this link to re-enter your credentials so we can resume collecting your data.” |
What the recipient sees
When someone opens a magic link, here’s the experience step by step:They confirm the utility provider
The page shows the utility provider URL (pre-filled if you set one when generating the link) and
a country selector. It’s a clean, simple interface — not overwhelming. If you have white-label
branding configured, they’ll see your company’s logo and colors instead of Nectar’s.
They sign into their utility account
An embedded browser window loads the utility company’s actual login page — the same one they’d
see if they went to ConEdison.com or PGE.com directly. They enter their username, password, and
any security codes (like a text message verification) just like they normally would. They can
also switch to manual entry if the embedded browser isn’t working.
They select sites and utility types
For company magic links, they choose which sites the account covers and what type of utility it
is (electricity, gas, water, etc.). If you pre-selected these when generating the link, they’ll
already be filled in.
What the URL looks like
When you generate a magic link, you get a URL that looks something like this:/p/ prefix indicates a public (unauthenticated) page, companyId identifies the company, and token is an encrypted secret that grants access to the connection flow. If the link has expired or is invalid, the person clicking it will see a clear message explaining that they need to request a new one.
Security
Magic links are built to be safe for unauthenticated users — people who don’t have (and don’t need) a Nectar account:- Encryption — The link secret uses 128-bit AES encryption. Even if someone intercepted the URL, they couldn’t extract any useful information from it.
- Privacy — Only the company’s public identifier appears in the URL. No internal IDs, no credentials, no sensitive data.
- Isolation — The embedded browser session where they enter their utility login is isolated and encrypted. Nectar captures only what it needs to establish the connection.
- Scoping — Each link is tied to a specific company. It can’t be used to access data from other companies or other parts of your Nectar account.
White-label branding
If your company has white-label branding configured, magic links automatically display your brand — your logo, your colors, your fonts. They never see “Nectar” anywhere. It looks like a seamless part of your own platform. This is especially powerful if you embed magic links in your own website or application. Recipients get a branded, professional experience that feels native to your product. See White-label for setup details.How to generate a magic link
You can create magic links in two ways: From the Nectar platform: Go to Data Input > Connections and click the Generate magic link button. A dialog lets you optionally pre-fill the utility website URL, country, sites, utility types, owner email, data collection start date, and link expiration. Click Generate link and Nectar creates a unique URL that you can copy and send via email, chat, or however you prefer. From the API: Call the create magic link endpoint programmatically. This is the approach most customers use when they want to embed the connection flow in their own application — like showing a “Connect your utility account” button inside your product that opens the magic link page.Tips for using magic links effectively
- Include context in your email. When you send a magic link, briefly explain why you’re sending it: “We use a platform to collect your utility data automatically. Click the link below to securely connect your utility account — it takes about two minutes.”
- Set expectations on timing. Let them know that after they complete the process, data usually starts appearing within a few hours, and in some cases within up to 48 hours while the connection is still Pending. They don’t need to do anything else.
- Use connection update links for reconnects. When a connection has an error, send a connection update magic link instead of asking for updated credentials by email. It’s faster and more secure.
- Batch your onboarding. If you’re onboarding multiple companies, generate magic links for each and send them in a batch. Each recipient connects independently, and you can track progress from your connections list.
FAQ
Can I send a magic link via email?
Can I send a magic link via email?
Absolutely. The most common approach is to copy the magic link URL and paste it into an email. You can also embed it in a button (“Click here to connect your utility account”) in your email template for a more polished look.
How long is the link valid?
How long is the link valid?
By default, magic links don’t expire. When generating a link, you can optionally set an expiration
time (in seconds). Once a link has expired, the person clicking it will see a clear “link expired”
message. You can always generate a new one. Company magic links can be reused — the recipient can
click it again to add more connections.
What does the recipient need to do?
What does the recipient need to do?
Just three things: click the link, sign into their utility account (the same username and password
they use on the utility company’s website), and complete any security verification (like a text
message code). That’s it. No downloads, no Nectar account, no technical knowledge required.
What if the recipient has trouble signing in?
What if the recipient has trouble signing in?
If they can’t log in through the magic link, the issue is almost always with their utility website
credentials — not with Nectar. Ask them to try logging into the utility website directly (like
ConEdison.com) to confirm their username and password work. If they can log in directly but not
through the magic link, contact [email protected].
Is it safe to share magic links?
Is it safe to share magic links?
Can I customize what the magic link page looks like?
Can I customize what the magic link page looks like?
Yes, if you have white-label branding configured. Your logo, colors, and fonts will automatically
appear on the magic link page instead of Nectar’s default branding. See
White-label for details on setting up your brand.
Do magic links work on mobile?
Do magic links work on mobile?
Yes. The magic link page is responsive and works on phones and tablets. They can click the
link from a mobile email, sign into their utility account on their phone, and complete the
process. Some utility websites are easier to navigate on desktop, but the magic link itself works
on any device.
Can I create a magic link for multiple sites at once?
Can I create a magic link for multiple sites at once?
A magic link is tied to a company, not a specific site. When you create the link, you can
pre-select which sites the connection should cover. If they have accounts across multiple
sites, one magic link can handle the connection — and Nectar will associate the data with the
appropriate sites based on the configuration.
What happens after they finish?
What happens after they finish?
Once they complete the connection through the magic link, Nectar immediately starts the first data collection. You’ll see the new connection appear in your Data Input > Connections list, and bills will usually begin flowing in within a few hours — in some cases within up to 48 hours while the connection is still Pending. They don’t need to do anything else.
Can I see if someone used the magic link?
Can I see if someone used the magic link?
Yes. When a magic link is used, a new connection appears in your connections list. If the link
hasn’t been used yet, you won’t see a corresponding connection. You can also check the connection
status — if it shows Pending or Connected, you know they completed the process
successfully.
What if they accidentally close the page before finishing?
What if they accidentally close the page before finishing?
They can simply click the magic link again and restart the process. The link remains valid until
the connection is successfully established. No data is lost or partially saved — the connection is
only created once the full sign-in is complete.
Can I use magic links for utility accounts outside the US?
Can I use magic links for utility accounts outside the US?
Yes. Magic links work with any utility provider that Nectar supports, including international providers across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and other markets. The magic link page handles different languages, date formats, and authentication flows automatically.