Watts reports

Last updated October 15, 2026

Build custom reports just by describing what you want in plain English—no table names, field names, or query language required. Watts reports is a licensed feature.

What Watts reports can do

Watts reports can pull from the full range of data in your database, including sites and meters, accounts, bills and line items, and more. You describe the report in everyday language and Watts reports translates that into a report built from your data.

Because Watts reports works across your entire database, you can ask for almost anything:

  • A simple list.
  • Cost comparison for sites.
  • Year-over-year variance.
  • An emissions summary.

Create a report

  1. In the Reports module select Watts reports.
  2. In the Describe the report you want box, type what you want to see. For example:
    • Show total electricity cost by site for the last 12 months.
    • Compare this year's natural gas use to last year by meter.
    • List all active accounts with no bills in the last 90 days.
  3. Select Send.
  4. If your request could mean more than one thing, Watts asks a clarifying question.
  5. Watts builds the report and shows it in a results grid, along with a short plain-language summary of what was returned (for example, how many rows and what the top result was).

Looking for a report you already built? The same screen has a Saved Reports button below the description box.

Refining a report

You don't need to start over if the first result isn't quite right. Just keep the conversation going and type a follow-up request in the same chat. For example, after your first request, you might follow up with:

  • Only show the top 10 sites.
  • Add a bar chart.
  • Break this out by month instead of site.
  • Exclude inactive accounts.

Each refinement updates the same report, and you can keep layering on changes until the results match what you need.

Report results

A Watts report can hold up to 10,000 rows. After a report is generated, you have several tools for exploring and shaping the data:

  • Report title
    Rename the report at the top of the results panel so it is easy to find later.
  • Columns panel
    Show or hide columns, drag to reorder them, or turn on Pivot Mode to group rows and summarize values.
  • Filters panel
    Add per-column filters (equals, contains, greater than, and similar conditions) to narrow the results without rewriting a new request.
  • Charts
    Select +Add above the results to turn your data into a column, bar, line, area, pie, donut, scatter, stacked column, or stacked bar chart. Each chart opens in its own tab alongside the table, and you can add more than one. From the chart's menu (the stacked dots) you can edit the chart, adjust advanced settings, unlink it from the underlying grid, or download it as an image.
  • Linked records
    Columns like site or place IDs are clickable and take you straight to that object.

Save, export and find reports

  • Select Actions > Save Report to save your report for later. Saved Watts reports show up under Reports > My Reports, alongside your other saved reports.
  • When you edit and save a saved report, Actions gives you two save options:
    • Make a Copy creates and opens a copy of the report.
    • Share Report lets you share the report with other users or groups.
  • Export as CSV or Excel.

Share a Watts report

You can share a Watts report with individual users or user groups. Other report types can only be shared with user groups. For details, see Share a report.

  1. In the Reports module, select the Watts report in My Reports.
  2. In the Actions menu, choose Share Report.
  3. Select the users or user groups who should see the report.
  4. Click Share.

Recipients see the shared report immediately. If they want to adjust it, they can save their own copy without changing yours.

Watts reports templates

Templates are ready-made starting points—instead of describing a report from scratch, you pick a template and Watts pulls your data into it immediately. Each template comes with a description of what it calculates and how it's sorted, so you can use it as-is or as a jumping-off point before refining the report. The template picker also shows the columns and data fields a template will produce before you generate the report, so you can choose the right template without running a test.

Tips and tricks

  • Be specific about the scope for the report. Add a time range, site/account/meter, and the metric you care about gets you a usable report faster.
  • Answer clarifying questions carefully.
  • Iterate instead of restarting. It's almost always faster to refine an existing report than to write a brand new report.
  • Ask for a chart right away.
  • Use Available Data to explore what's possible.
  • Combine natural language with grid tools. After you have a report you like, use Filters and Columns for quick adjustments.
  • Rename before you save. Watts generates a title automatically, but a clear, descriptive title makes it much easier to find later.
  • Export the report in Excel or as a CSV to share with others.
  • If a report seems to be missing something, it's more likely a wording issue than a data access issue. Try rephrasing with more detail.

Frequently asked questions

Why did Watts ask me a question instead of just building the report?

Your data sometimes has more than one thing that matches what you described (for example, multiple cost types for the same utility). Watts asks a quick clarifying question in those cases so the report reflects exactly what you meant, rather than guessing.

Can I edit the report's logic directly?

Not directly—but you can shape the results as much as you need through natural-language refinements plus the Columns and Filters panels, without needing to touch any underlying query.

Where do my saved reports go?

Saved Watts reports live under Reports > My Reports along with your other reports. They're labeled Watts reports so you can tell them apart, and you can filter the list to show only Watts reports. You can also jump to them directly from the Watts reports screen using the Saved Reports button, without going through My Reports at all.

What if my results still aren't right after a few tries?

Try being more specific—name the exact site, account, meter, date range, or cost/usage type you mean. The more concrete your request, the less Watts has to guess.