Excel Add-in Support
Complete guide for installing and using the Energy Price Comparison add-in
Quick Start Guide
Get up and running in 3 minutes
- 1. Install - Get the add-in from Microsoft AppSource
- 2. Get API Key - Sign up for free at oilpriceapi.com (100 lifetime requests)
- 3. Start Fetching - Select commodities and click "Fetch Prices"
Installation
Option 1: Install from AppSource (Recommended)
- 1.Open Microsoft Excel (Desktop, Mac, or Online)
- 2.Go to Insert → Get Add-ins
- 3.Search for "Energy Price Comparison"
- 4.Click Add to install
- 5.The add-in will appear in the Home ribbon tab
Option 2: Direct Sideload (Development)
For testing or development purposes:
- 1.Download manifest.xml from GitHub
- 2.In Excel, go to File → Options → Trust Center
- 3.Click Trust Center Settings → Trusted Add-in Catalogs
- 4.Add the folder containing manifest.xml
- 5.Restart Excel and go to Insert → My Add-ins
API Key Setup
Step 1: Get Your API Key
- 1.Visit oilpriceapi.com/signup
- 2.Create a free account (no credit card required)
- 3.Copy your API key from the dashboard
Free Tier: 100 lifetime API requests - perfect for getting started
Step 2: Configure in Excel
- 1.Open the Energy Price Comparison add-in in Excel
- 2.Paste your API key in the Settings section
- 3.Click Save - the add-in will validate your key
- 4.Click Test Connection to verify (optional)
Note: Your API key is stored locally in your browser and never shared
Using the Add-in
1. Fetch Prices
- Select the commodities you want to fetch (Brent, WTI, Natural Gas, etc.)
- Click Fetch Prices or press Ctrl+P
- A new Data sheet will be created with the latest prices
2. Convert to MBtu
- After fetching prices, click Convert to MBtu
- A Process sheet will be created with standardized $/MBtu prices
- Compare energy costs across different commodities directly
3. Track Your Usage
The add-in displays your API usage counter in the Settings section:
Troubleshooting
"Invalid API key" error
Solution:
- • Double-check you copied the entire API key (no spaces)
- • Verify your account is active at oilpriceapi.com/dashboard
- • Try generating a new API key from your dashboard
Add-in not appearing in Excel
Solution:
- • Restart Excel completely
- • Check Insert → My Add-ins to enable it
- • Verify you're logged into Excel with your Microsoft account
- • Excel Online: Clear browser cache and refresh
"Rate limit exceeded" error
Solution:
- • You've used all 100 free lifetime requests
- • Upgrade to a paid plan for more requests
- • Free tier does not reset (lifetime limit)
Data sheet not created
Solution:
- • Check that at least one commodity is selected
- • Verify your API key is saved and valid
- • Check browser console for errors (F12 → Console)
- • Try closing and reopening the add-in
Frequently Asked Questions
What commodities are supported?
Currently supported: Brent Crude Oil, WTI Crude Oil, Natural Gas (US), Natural Gas (UK), Dutch TTF Gas, and Coal. More commodities coming soon based on user feedback.
How often is data updated?
Prices are updated in real-time from our API. When you click "Fetch Prices", you get the latest available data (typically within 100ms of market updates).
Is my API key secure?
Yes. Your API key is stored only in your browser's local storage and is never transmitted to our servers except when making authenticated API requests. We use HTTPS encryption for all data transmission.
Can I use this on Mac?
Yes! The add-in works on Excel for Mac (2016 or later), Excel for Windows, and Excel Online.
Can I access historical data?
Historical data is available on paid plans ($15/month and up). The free tier provides current/latest prices only.See pricing.
Does this work offline?
No, the add-in requires an internet connection to fetch prices from the OilPriceAPI. However, once data is in your Excel sheet, you can work with it offline.
Can I share my workbooks with others?
Yes! Once prices are fetched, they're just regular Excel data. You can share the workbook like any other Excel file. Recipients don't need the add-in to view the data, only to fetch new prices.
Still Need Help?
Our support team is here to help you get the most out of the Energy Price Comparison add-in.
Email: [email protected] | Response time: <24 hours