Mastering prompt writing is easier than you think.
Use these three steps to create a great alert:
1 Narrow Your Documents
- Refine search filters (commission, filing type, keywords) until you have the right document set
- Evaluate keyword density — e.g., 'nuclear relicensing' has 181 docs) vs ANY keyword: for ‘nuclear’ and ‘license' (over 600k docs)
You’ll notice the right side of the image above has more specific language and a more targeted set of results.
2 Set Your Alert Document Window
Do you have enough documents for a daily alert, or would a weekly alert better meet your needs? Experiment by setting the start date for ~1 week prior to and ~2 days prior to get a sense of the documents that will be contained in your query window.
When you like your result set, click Query (in the lower left-hand corner).
3 Write Your Query
Start with your goal: what should be extracted or summarized from these documents? Here are four tips to write effective prompts:
Here’s an example of putting these effective alert prompts into action: for Nuclear (Re)Licensing
Identify whether the documents mention nuclear licensing or nuclear relicensing.
Nuclear licensing may be described using terms such as: - reactor license, - Combined License (COL), - Early Site Permit (ESP), - Construction Permit (CP), - Operating License (OL), and - Limited Work Authorization (LWA). Nuclear relicensing may be described using terms such as: - nuclear license renewal, - Subsequent License Renewal (SLR), - Subsequent License Renewal Application (SLRA), Aging Management Program (AMP), and - Long Term Operation (LTO)
Include documents that are: - applications, proposals, or updates to nuclear power licensing or relicensing.
Extract: - the name (if known), - the utility, commission, or other implementing entity, - whether it relates to an initial nuclear license or nuclear renewal, or both, - any notable scope, targets, or timelines described.
Iterate: refine search and query to narrow in on the insights you need.
As a template, here’s an example of a great alert on Beneficial Electrification & Transportation Electrification Plans (which you can sign up for) and a breakdown of what makes the alert great:
- Robust Search Filters (see green box)
- Synonym Coverage (see orange highlight)
- Clarity on What to Include (see green highlight)
- Clarity on What to Exclude (see red highlight)
- Structured Extract Fields (see blue highlight)
Use these guidelines to get better results:
✓ DO
- Spell out Acronyms - Include both the full term and the acronym in search keywords and query. Example: include both 'PPA' and 'power purchase agreement'. Never rely on acronyms alone.
- Include complete context – Provide all necessary details for an accurate answer. Give background info and constraints. State your goals. Avoid 'Act as…' persona prompts — chatbot-style multi-turn context doesn't carry over in alerts.
- Iterate & Refine Strategically – Adjust search filters first, then refine your prompt if needed. Test your search and query independently before combining. Isolating each component helps you identify exactly what's causing unwanted output.
- Define the type of output you want – In your prompt, specify if you want an executive summary only or if you need to include the details.
- Simplify your requests – Break complex questions into clear, direct, focused queries.
✗ DON'T
- Use totality language – Avoid phrases like "all information" or "every instance of"
- Request exhaustive searches – The system finds relevant examples, not comprehensive catalogs.
- Select all Topics as a Select All - By default, the system selects all. Use the Topics dropdown to narrow to an area where you want to construct an alert.
Alert Types Reference Guide
Docket Monitoring - Get alerted when new filings hit a specific regulatory docket
Topic Monitoring - Monitor a topic across all filings
Project Monitoring - Track progression of specific projects over time
Plan / Application Tracking - Get alerted to specific plans or applications by name
Recurring Filing Cadence - Get alerted when a weekly or monthly filing is released
Company Tracking - Monitor energy activity for a specific company
Commission Approvals - Track what a commission is approving or requesting on a specific topic
Market Rule Changes - Get alerted to state or wholesale market rule changes
Guidance on Specific Types of Alerts
When creating alerts tracking the mention of an entity - instead of a generic query “What are the key insights from these recent filings related to the keyword/s or topic/s?” Try instead, “Are there any updates about projects, comments in dockets, or testimony about XYZ company?”
Tuning Queries
Tips:
- Use “match of language” or “examples of similarly named items” approaches, where you match the exact language in your prompt to exactly match the filed regulatory documents. This approach can be used for search & query.
- If you are receiving older filed documents and exhibits in your alert - add an include / exclude statement like. “Include documents filed within 2026, exclude previously approved and filed programs.”
Got questions or feedback about this page? support@halcyon.io
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