diff --git a/datacenterlight/utils.py b/datacenterlight/utils.py
index 808a7643..208d39f3 100644
--- a/datacenterlight/utils.py
+++ b/datacenterlight/utils.py
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import logging
-import os
 import pyotp
 import requests
-import dotenv
 from django.contrib.sites.models import Site
+from django.conf import settings
 
 from datacenterlight.tasks import create_vm_task
 from hosting.models import HostingOrder, HostingBill, OrderDetail
@@ -15,18 +14,6 @@ from .models import VMPricing, VMTemplate
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-PROJECT_DIR = os.path.abspath(
-    os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__)),
-)
-
-# load .env file
-dotenv.read_dotenv("{0}/.env".format(PROJECT_DIR))
-
-
-def env(env_name):
-    return os.environ.get(env_name)
-
-
 def get_cms_integration(name):
     current_site = Site.objects.get_current()
     try:
@@ -119,17 +106,17 @@ def clear_all_session_vars(request):
 
 def check_otp(name, realm, token):
     data = {
-        "auth_name": env('AUTH_NAME'),
-        "auth_token": pyotp.TOTP(env('AUTH_SEED')).now(),
-        "auth_realm": env('AUTH_REALM'),
+        "auth_name": settings.AUTH_NAME,
+        "auth_token": pyotp.TOTP(settings.AUTH_SEED).now(),
+        "auth_realm": settings.AUTH_REALM,
         "name": name,
         "realm": realm,
         "token": token
     }
     response = requests.post(
         "https://{OTP_SERVER}{OTP_VERIFY_ENDPOINT}".format(
-            OTP_SERVER=env('OTP_SERVER'),
-            OTP_VERIFY_ENDPOINT=env('OTP_VERIFY_ENDPOINT')
+            OTP_SERVER=settings.OTP_SERVER,
+            OTP_VERIFY_ENDPOINT=settings.OTP_VERIFY_ENDPOINT
         ),
         data=data
     )
diff --git a/dynamicweb/settings/base.py b/dynamicweb/settings/base.py
index b267c31d..27909813 100644
--- a/dynamicweb/settings/base.py
+++ b/dynamicweb/settings/base.py
@@ -721,6 +721,14 @@ X_FRAME_OPTIONS = ('SAMEORIGIN' if X_FRAME_OPTIONS_ALLOW_FROM_URI is None else
 
 DEBUG = bool_env('DEBUG')
 
+ACCOUNT_NAME = env('ACCOUNT_NAME')
+AUTH_NAME = env('AUTH_NAME')
+AUTH_SEED = env('AUTH_SEED')
+AUTH_REALM = env('AUTH_REALM')
+OTP_SERVER = env('OTP_SERVER')
+OTP_VERIFY_ENDPOINT = env('OTP_VERIFY_ENDPOINT')
+
+
 if DEBUG:
     from .local import *  # flake8: noqa
 else:
diff --git a/hosting/views.py b/hosting/views.py
index f39e1b58..b0cee45c 100644
--- a/hosting/views.py
+++ b/hosting/views.py
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 import logging
 import uuid
-import os
-import dotenv
 from datetime import datetime
 from time import sleep
 
@@ -39,7 +37,7 @@ from stored_messages.settings import stored_messages_settings
 
 from datacenterlight.cms_models import DCLCalculatorPluginModel
 from datacenterlight.models import VMTemplate, VMPricing
-from datacenterlight.utils import create_vm, get_cms_integration, check_otp, env
+from datacenterlight.utils import create_vm, get_cms_integration, check_otp
 from hosting.models import UserCardDetail
 from membership.models import CustomUser, StripeCustomer
 from opennebula_api.models import OpenNebulaManager
@@ -1775,7 +1773,8 @@ class CheckUserVM(APIView):
             user = request.data['user']
             realm = request.data['realm']
             token = request.data['token']
-            if user != env('ACCOUNT_NAME'):
+            print(settings.ACCOUNT_NAME)
+            if user != settings.ACCOUNT_NAME:
                 return Response("User not allowed", 403)
             response = check_otp(user, realm, token)
             if response != 200: