diff --git a/scripts/.gitignore b/scripts/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2eea525
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+.env
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/external-api.js b/scripts/external-api.js
index 66debe1..ecf9cf5 100644
--- a/scripts/external-api.js
+++ b/scripts/external-api.js
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import process from 'node:process';
 import axios from 'axios';
 import {v4 as uuidv4} from 'uuid';
+import {config} from "dotenv";
+
+config();
 
 const baseUrl = (process.env.BASE_URL ?? "http://localhost:8085")
     .replace(/\/*$/, '')
@@ -39,7 +42,7 @@ const baseDate = new Date().getTime() //- iterations * 60 + 1000
 let itemsSent = 0
 for (let i = 1; i <= iterations; i++) {
     const id = uuidv4()
-    const date = baseDate + (i-1) * 60 * 1000
+    const date = baseDate + (i - 1) * 60 * 1000
     const c = i < iterations ? bulkSize :
         ((dataPoints % bulkSize) === 0 ? bulkSize : (dataPoints % bulkSize))
 
@@ -72,11 +75,11 @@ for (let i = 1; i <= iterations; i++) {
         .then((response) => {
             if (response.status < 300) {
                 console.info(`Sent Bulk ${i} of ${iterations} (${response.status})`, response.data);
-                return dataBulk.dataPoints.length
+                return dataBulk.dataPoints.length;
             } else if (response.status >= 400) {
                 console.error(`Sending data failed: ${response.status} - ${response.statusText}`, response.data);
             }
-            return 0
+            return 0;
         })
         .catch((err) => {
             console.error(`Received ${err}`);
diff --git a/scripts/package-lock.json b/scripts/package-lock.json
index e0ae924..3389814 100644
--- a/scripts/package-lock.json
+++ b/scripts/package-lock.json
@@ -8,8 +8,11 @@
       "name": "tools",
       "version": "1.0.0",
       "dependencies": {
-        "axios": "^1.7.8",
+        "axios": "^1.7.9",
         "uuid": "^11.0.3"
+      },
+      "devDependencies": {
+        "dotenv": "^16.4.7"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/asynckit": {
@@ -18,9 +21,10 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-Oei9OH4tRh0YqU3GxhX79dM/mwVgvbZJaSNaRk+bshkj0S5cfHcgYakreBjrHwatXKbz+IoIdYLxrKim2MjW0Q=="
     },
     "node_modules/axios": {
-      "version": "1.7.8",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/axios/-/axios-1.7.8.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-Uu0wb7KNqK2t5K+YQyVCLM76prD5sRFjKHbJYCP1J7JFGEQ6nN7HWn9+04LAeiJ3ji54lgS/gZCH1oxyrf1SPw==",
+      "version": "1.7.9",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/axios/-/axios-1.7.9.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-LhLcE7Hbiryz8oMDdDptSrWowmB4Bl6RCt6sIJKpRB4XtVf0iEgewX3au/pJqm+Py1kCASkb/FFKjxQaLtxJvw==",
+      "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "follow-redirects": "^1.15.6",
         "form-data": "^4.0.0",
@@ -46,6 +50,19 @@
         "node": ">=0.4.0"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/dotenv": {
+      "version": "16.4.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dotenv/-/dotenv-16.4.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-47qPchRCykZC03FhkYAhrvwU4xDBFIj1QPqaarj6mdM/hgUzfPHcpkHJOn3mJAufFeeAxAzeGsr5X0M4k6fLZQ==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "BSD-2-Clause",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://dotenvx.com"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/follow-redirects": {
       "version": "1.15.9",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/follow-redirects/-/follow-redirects-1.15.9.tgz",
diff --git a/scripts/package.json b/scripts/package.json
index e81c92b..8691403 100644
--- a/scripts/package.json
+++ b/scripts/package.json
@@ -4,10 +4,14 @@
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
-    "external-api": "node external-api.js"
+    "external-api": "node external-api.js",
+    "external-api:local": "source .env && npm run external-api"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "axios": "^1.7.8",
+    "axios": "^1.7.9",
     "uuid": "^11.0.3"
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "dotenv": "^16.4.7"
   }
 }