Getting Started with Texture

Texture makes your energy systems visible, responsive, and connected—without rebuilding your stack. It works with your existing infrastructure and connects to the data and devices you already have. Start with a single integration or use case, and expand as you go.

This guide is a roadmap for building with Texture — whether you're developing on distributed energy resources (solar, batteries, EVs, thermostats) or operating a distribution grid (meters, SCADA, topology, and grid elements).

Two ways teams use Texture
  • Building on DERs — connect and control distributed energy devices for monitoring, demand response, and virtual power plants. Start with Devices, Texture Connect, and Programs & Enrollments.
  • Operating a distribution grid — bring in AMI meters, SCADA, and grid topology to monitor and analyze the grid. Start with Grid Operations.

The steps below work for both — pick the integration path that matches your data.

Step 1: Create Your Account#

  1. Sign up at app.texturehq.com
  2. Create your Organization
  3. Texture automatically creates Production and Sandbox workspaces for you

Step 2: Explore the Platform#

Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the Texture Platform:

  • Home: Your Platform overview and key metrics
  • Explore: The map and list workspace for navigating sites, devices, and grid elements on one canvas
  • Sites: Browse physical locations and their associated devices
  • Devices: View connected energy devices and their real-time data
  • Contacts: Manage customer accounts that own devices
  • Connect: Create and manage Texture Connect sessions for device onboarding
  • Developer: Access your API keys, webhooks, and documentation

Step 3: Choose Your Integration Method#

Texture offers flexible ways to bring in data, based on your use case:

Option A: Texture Connect (for Individual Consumer Devices)#

Ideal for residential deployments or when device owners need to grant access:

  1. Generate a Texture Connect link using our API or SDKs
  2. Send the link to your users or embed it in your application
  3. Users authenticate with their device manufacturer accounts
  4. Devices appear in your Texture account once connected

Best for: Homeowner-owned devices, consumer-facing applications, OAuth-based connections

Learn more: Texture Connect

Option B: Integration Hub + Bulk Import (for Fleet/Commercial Deployments)#

Ideal for installer-managed systems or commercial fleets:

  1. Use Bulk Import to upload your portfolio of sites, customers, and device IDs at scale
  2. Configure Integration Hub with your OEM credentials to enable automatic data syncing
  3. Texture automatically pulls device data on a recurring basis

Best for: Installer-managed fleets, commercial deployments, third-party aggregator portfolios

Learn more: Integration Hub and Bulk Import

Option C: Grid & Utility Data (for Utility/Grid Operator Integration)#

Ideal for utility-scale deployments and distribution-grid operations. Texture meets you where you are — we ingest your grid data however your systems share it, on whatever cadence fits (5-minute to weekly):

  • File-based ingestion (SFTP, S3, SMB) — for SCADA and grid topology (GIS / GeoJSON + the connectivity model)
  • DNP3 via RTAC — for front-of-the-meter assets such as utility-scale batteries
  • Standards-based integrations — IEEE 2030.5, OpenADR, and similar for grid coordination

Contact us through the Platform chat to discuss your requirements and configure the right path.

Best for: Utilities, grid operators, large-scale DERMS deployments

Learn more: Data Ingestion & Migration, Grid Operations, and Industry Standards

Step 4: Start Using Your Data and Controls#

Once your devices and data sources are connected, you can:

  1. View device, meter, and grid data in the Platform to verify proper integration
  2. Fetch telemetry through our API
  3. Send commands to devices individually or in batches
  4. Configure webhooks to receive real-time event notifications

Step 5: Build Your Workflows#

Now that you're connected, you can build your energy application:

  • Device Monitoring: Track energy production, consumption, and storage
  • Device Control: Charge/discharge batteries, adjust thermostats, and more
  • Grid Monitoring & Analytics: Transformer loading, topology aggregations, and power-quality monitoring across the grid
  • Automation: Create rules and schedules for automatic control
  • Energy Optimization: Leverage weather forecasts and carbon data to optimize operation

Next Steps#

Need help? Use the live chat in the Platform (look for the chat bubble in the lower right corner) to connect with our team.