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Need help in this area? See Data Input FAQ.
Video walkthrough coming soon. A Loom video demonstrating this page will be added here.
Screenshot coming soon. A screenshot of this feature will be added here.
Navigate to Data Input > Manual Entry to create a bill record by hand.

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When to use manual entry

  • Correcting extracted data — a bill was processed but some values are wrong, and it’s faster to enter the correct numbers directly
  • Non-digital sources — you received billing information verbally, via fax, or in a format Nectar can’t read
  • One-off data points — you need to add a single usage record without uploading a full document
If you have a PDF or image of the bill, consider using Uploads instead for faster AI-powered extraction.

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Wizard steps

The manual entry wizard guides you through six steps:

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Step 1: Account Selection

Choose whether this bill is linked to an existing utility account in Nectar or is a standalone manual entry.
  • Linked to account — The bill belongs to a utility account already tracked in Nectar. Meters will be pre-filtered to those associated with the selected account. This is ideal for backfilling historical or gap data for accounts with existing connections or email flows.
  • Standalone manual entry — The bill is not connected to any existing account. Use this for one-off bills, paper bills without a digital source, or data corrections.
You can preview an account’s details before selecting it by clicking the eye icon.

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Step 2: Bill Information

Enter the core bill details:
FieldRequiredDescription
Bill DateYesThe date printed on the invoice.
Total ChargesYesThe total dollar amount due on the bill.
Due DateNoThe payment due date.
Invoice IDNoThe invoice or bill number from the utility provider.
NotesNoAny additional context about this bill.

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Step 3: Select Meters

Choose the meters that appear on this bill. This step is focused purely on meter selection—you’ll enter the actual usage values in the next step. If you selected an account (linked mode):
  • Meters are pre-filtered to those associated with your selected account
  • All meters across all sites on that account are shown, grouped by site
  • You cannot create new meters in this mode—use standalone mode if you need to add a new meter
If you selected standalone mode:
  • For each usage record, first select a site, then choose a meter at that site
  • Only meters not associated with any account are shown
  • You can create a new meter if needed by specifying the utility type and optional meter number
Click Add another to add multiple usage records—useful when a single bill covers multiple sites or meter types.
Try to select an existing meter whenever possible. Creating duplicate meters can lead to fragmented data across your reports. You can preview meter details by clicking the eye icon.

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Step 4: Usage Data

Enter the consumption values for each meter you selected. Each meter shows its utility type icon and name for easy identification.
FieldRequiredDescription
Start DateYesThe first day of the billing period for this meter.
End DateYesThe last day of the billing period for this meter.
UsageYesThe total consumption for the billing period.
UnitsNoThe unit of measurement (kWh, therms, gallons, etc.).
Advanced options (expand to view):
  • Previous/current meter readings
  • Multiplier factor
  • Estimated reading checkbox

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Step 5: Additional Details (Optional)

This step is optional. You can add:
  • Peak Demand Meters — Record peak electricity demand (kW) if shown on the bill.
  • Line Items — Break down the total charges into individual items (supply, delivery, taxes, etc.). Optionally link line items to specific usage records.

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Step 6: Review & Submit

Review all entered information before saving. Click Edit on any section to make changes.

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After saving

When you save a bill entry, you’ll see a success screen with three options:
  • Start another entry — Begin a new manual bill entry immediately
  • View created bill — Go directly to the bill in Data Inventory to review or edit
  • Back to uploads — Return to the Data Input uploads page

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Draft saving

The manual entry wizard automatically saves your progress as you go. If you navigate away or close the page before finishing, you’ll be prompted to Continue editing your draft or Start fresh the next time you open manual entry. Drafts show the bill date, total charges, and the step you left off at so you can pick up exactly where you stopped.

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Tips

  • Double-check your dates. The start and end dates on each usage record determine which billing period the data falls into. Getting these wrong can throw off monthly comparisons and analytics.
  • Match the units. If the bill says 5,000 kWh, make sure you select kWh as the unit — not MWh or therms. A unit mismatch is the most common manual entry mistake.
  • Select existing meters when possible. The wizard encourages you to search for and select meters already in Nectar. Creating duplicate meters leads to fragmented data across your reports.
  • Link to an existing account when possible. If the bill is for a utility already tracked in Nectar, linking it to that account filters the meter list and keeps your data organized.
  • Use it sparingly. Manual entry is a great safety net, but if you find yourself entering data by hand regularly for the same utility, consider setting up a connection or uploading bills instead.

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FAQ

You can, but results vary. A well-lit, straight-on photo usually works. A blurry or angled photo often doesn’t. For best results, use a scanning app on your phone to create a clean PDF, then upload that instead.
Nectar supports bills in multiple languages and character sets, including non-roman scripts. The AI extraction engine handles international formats, date conventions, and units. If you run into issues with a specific language, contact [email protected].
Yes. In standalone mode, click Add another in the Select Meters step to add multiple usage records, each with its own site and meter. In linked mode (connected to an account), the wizard shows all meters across all sites on that account, so you can enter usage for any combination of locations on a single bill.
Your progress is saved automatically as a draft. The next time you open Data Input > Manual Entry, you’ll be prompted to continue where you left off or discard the draft and start over. The draft preview shows the bill date, total charges, and which step you were on.
After saving, you’ll see a confirmation screen with three options: start another entry immediately, view the bill you just created in Data Inventory, or return to the uploads page.