Understanding Customer Behavior: Using Energy API to Build Tailored Energy Solutions for Utilities

Introduction

In the rapidly evolving energy sector, understanding customer behavior is crucial for utilities aiming to provide tailored energy solutions. With the increasing complexity of energy markets, developers and data engineers face significant challenges in accessing reliable market data. Traditional methods, such as scraping government portals or stitching together incompatible formats, can be time-consuming and error-prone. This is where Energy API comes into play, offering a unified REST API that aggregates wholesale energy market data from trusted sources.

By leveraging the Energy API, developers can access a wealth of information on electricity, natural gas, crude oil, coal, carbon allowances, and grid carbon intensity—all normalized into a single JSON interface. This not only simplifies the data retrieval process but also empowers utilities to make informed decisions based on real-time market insights. In this blog post, we will explore the key features of the Energy API, how to get started, and practical use cases that demonstrate its value in understanding customer behavior.

Why Energy API

The Energy API stands out in the crowded landscape of energy data providers for several reasons:

• Unified Data Access: Instead of dealing with multiple sources like OMIE, ENTSO-E, and EIA, the Energy API provides a single, normalized REST surface. This eliminates the need for developers to manage different formats, schedules, and naming conventions, allowing them to focus on building applications rather than data integration.
• Comprehensive Coverage: With over 39 symbols across six commodity categories, the Energy API covers a wide range of market data. Developers can access spot prices, historical series, intraday curves, and more, all through a consistent JSON schema. This means features can be shipped in hours, not weeks, significantly accelerating the development process.
• Real-Time Data: The API offers intraday electricity curves and the latest prices for various commodities, ensuring that developers have access to the most current market information. This is essential for applications that require timely data, such as trading platforms or cost estimation tools.
• Trusted Data Providers: The Energy API aggregates data from reputable sources like OMIE, ENTSO-E, and EIA, ensuring that users receive accurate and reliable information. This trustworthiness is critical for developers building applications that rely on precise market data.

Quick Start

Getting started with the Energy API is straightforward. The base URL for accessing the API is:

https://energy-api.com/api/v1

To make your first request, you will need to include your API key as a query parameter. Here’s an example of how to retrieve the latest prices for Brent Crude and TTF Gas:

curl -G https://energy-api.com/api/v1/latest \
--data-urlencode "symbols=BRENT_CRUDE,TTF_GAS" \
--data-urlencode "api_key=YOUR_API_KEY"

The expected JSON response will look like this:

{
"success": true,
"date": "2026-06-11",
"base": "MIXED",
"rates": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": 74.82,
"TTF_GAS": 38.15
},
"dates": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": "2026-06-11",
"TTF_GAS": "2026-06-11"
},
"currencies": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": "USD",
"TTF_GAS": "EUR"
}
}

In this response, the success field indicates whether the request was successful, while the rates object contains the latest prices for the requested commodities.

Core Endpoints

1. GET /latest

This endpoint retrieves the most recent prices for one or more symbols. It is essential for applications that require up-to-date market information.

Key Parameters:

• symbols (required): A comma-separated list of symbols to retrieve prices for.
• base (optional): A currency filter for the returned prices.

cURL Example:

curl -G https://energy-api.com/api/v1/latest \
--data-urlencode "symbols=BRENT_CRUDE,TTF_GAS,EUA_CO2" \
--data-urlencode "api_key=YOUR_API_KEY"

Sample JSON Response:

{
"success": true,
"date": "2026-06-11",
"base": "MIXED",
"rates": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": 74.82,
"TTF_GAS": 38.15,
"EUA_CO2": 67.40
},
"dates": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": "2026-06-11",
"TTF_GAS": "2026-06-11",
"EUA_CO2": "2026-06-11"
},
"currencies": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": "USD",
"TTF_GAS": "EUR",
"EUA_CO2": "EUR"
}
}

In this response, the rates object provides the latest prices for each requested symbol, along with their respective currencies.

2. GET /historical

This endpoint allows users to retrieve prices for all symbols on a specific past date. If the date falls on a non-publishing day, it returns the most recent value before that date.

Key Parameters:

• date (required): The date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
• symbols (required): A comma-separated list of symbols to retrieve historical prices for.
• base (optional): A currency filter for the returned prices.

cURL Example:

curl -G https://energy-api.com/api/v1/historical \
--data-urlencode "date=2025-09-15" \
--data-urlencode "symbols=BRENT_CRUDE,TTF_GAS" \
--data-urlencode "api_key=YOUR_API_KEY"

Sample JSON Response:

{
"success": true,
"date": "2025-09-15",
"base": "MIXED",
"rates": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": 71.45,
"TTF_GAS": 36.20
},
"currencies": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": "USD",
"TTF_GAS": "EUR"
}
}

This response provides the historical prices for the specified date, allowing developers to analyze trends over time.

3. GET /timeseries

This endpoint retrieves historical series between two dates, making it ideal for charting and trend analysis.

Key Parameters:

• start (required): The start date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
• end (required): The end date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
• symbols (required): A comma-separated list of symbols to retrieve time series data for.
• base (optional): A currency filter for the returned prices.

cURL Example:

curl -G https://energy-api.com/api/v1/timeseries \
--data-urlencode "start=2025-01-01" \
--data-urlencode "end=2025-03-31" \
--data-urlencode "symbols=BRENT_CRUDE,TTF_GAS" \
--data-urlencode "api_key=YOUR_API_KEY"

Sample JSON Response:

{
"success": true,
"base": "MIXED",
"start_date": "2025-01-01",
"end_date": "2025-03-31",
"rates": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": {
"2025-01-02": 76.30,
"2025-01-03": 75.90
},
"TTF_GAS": {
"2025-01-02": 46.80,
"2025-01-03": 47.10
}
},
"frequencies": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": "daily",
"TTF_GAS": "daily"
},
"currencies": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": "USD",
"TTF_GAS": "EUR"
}
}

This response provides a time series of prices for the specified symbols, allowing developers to visualize trends and perform analysis over the selected date range.

4. GET /fluctuation

This endpoint calculates the start and end values, absolute change, and percentage change over a specified period. It is useful for understanding market volatility.

Key Parameters:

• start (required): The start date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
• end (required): The end date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
• symbols (required): A comma-separated list of symbols to analyze.
• base (optional): A currency filter for the returned prices.

Sample JSON Response:

{
"success": true,
"fluctuations": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": {
"start_value": 70.00,
"end_value": 74.82,
"change": 4.82,
"change_pct": 6.89
},
"TTF_GAS": {
"start_value": 36.00,
"end_value": 38.15,
"change": 2.15,
"change_pct": 5.97
}
}
}

This response provides insights into price fluctuations, helping developers build applications that monitor market changes and alert users to significant movements.

Real-World Use Cases

Here are three concrete examples of how developers can leverage the Energy API to build valuable applications:

• Price Alert System: Developers can create a price alert system that notifies users when the price of a commodity reaches a certain threshold. By using the /latest endpoint, the application can continuously monitor prices and send alerts via email or SMS when conditions are met.
• ESG Dashboard: An ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) dashboard can be built to track carbon intensity and emissions data. By utilizing the /carbon-intensity and /emissions/latest endpoints, developers can provide users with insights into their carbon footprint and help them make more sustainable choices.
• Cost Calculator: A cost calculator can be developed to estimate monthly electricity costs based on usage patterns. By using the /cost-estimate endpoint, developers can provide users with accurate estimates based on the latest market prices, helping them manage their energy expenses effectively.

FAQ

How often does the TTF gas price update?

The TTF gas price updates frequently throughout the day, reflecting real-time market conditions. Developers can use the /latest endpoint to retrieve the most current price at any time.

Can I get historical energy prices going back 5 years?

Yes, the Energy API allows users to access historical prices for various commodities. By using the /historical and /timeseries endpoints, developers can retrieve data for specific dates or date ranges, enabling comprehensive analysis of market trends over time.

Does the API support multiple currencies?

Yes, the Energy API supports multiple currencies. Developers can specify a base currency when making requests, and the API will return prices in the requested currency, making it easier to integrate into applications that operate in different regions.

Conclusion

Understanding customer behavior in the energy sector is essential for utilities looking to provide tailored solutions. The Energy API offers a powerful tool for developers, providing access to a wealth of normalized market data from trusted sources. By leveraging the API's capabilities, developers can build applications that deliver real-time insights, monitor price fluctuations, and support sustainability initiatives.

With its unified data access, comprehensive coverage, and real-time updates, the Energy API is the fastest path from zero to production energy data. Whether you're building a price alert system, an ESG dashboard, or a cost calculator, the Energy API can help you deliver value to your users quickly and efficiently. Try Energy API for free today and unlock the potential of energy market data for your applications.