Xcel Energy today announced a new set of voice
Actions for the Google Assistant, including the option for customers
to pay their bill by simply starting by saying, “Ok Google…”
Customers can now access their account, hear their account balance or
due date, and even make a bill payment, simply by speaking to their
Google Assistant-enabled devices. The Assistant is available on more
than a billion devices, including Google Nest Hub, Google Home, Google
Home Mini, or through the Google Assistant app on iPhone or natively on
Android devices. Once their Xcel Energy and Assistant accounts are
linked, a customer simply needs to say, “OK Google, pay my energy bill,”
to hear account information and make a payment.
“Today’s announcement builds on our collaboration with Google and the
ways we’re working to bring enhanced service and next-generation
engagement to our customers,” said Brett Carter, executive vice
president and chief customer and innovation officer, Xcel Energy. “This
is an exciting time to develop and deploy innovative energy solutions
for our customers while leveraging our investments in technology.”
Xcel Energy launched its first set of Actions for the Assistant last
year, allowing customers to access information about improving energy
efficiency in their homes. In the future, even more options will be
available to Xcel Energy customers through Nest Hub and the Assistant,
products that will give customers the ability to personalize their
energy management using voice-connected devices, such as the Google Nest
Learning Thermostat.
Xcel Energy has been a leader in providing smart home technologies that
help customers manage their energy. The company and Google Nest began
working together in 2015 with the energy savings program Seasonal
Savings, which slowly fine-tunes temperatures in a customer’s home
heating and cooling schedule to help them save energy and lower bills
without sacrificing personal preferences or comfort.
With smart thermostat energy efficiency rebates available in Texas and
Colorado, Xcel Energy is scaling efforts to deploy smart thermostats for
home energy management. And now, with Xcel Energy’s Google Assistant
Actions, that effort is being expanded to provide an easier way for
customers to access their account and use energy more efficiently.
Learn about ways Xcel Energy is innovating to make it easy for customers
to save energy, go green and manage their account at xcelenergy.com.
About Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the
energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western
and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an
industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing
and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable
sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com
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