You may already ask Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant to play music or turn on the lights. But your smart speaker can also help you lower your energy bills – and some utilities are teaming up with Google to make that even easier.
Why It Matters: You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Waiting for a monthly bill doesn’t help you spot energy waste – but real-time data does.
Smart New Homes Meet Smart Savings
Google has partnered with electric utilities to offer new homeowners a Google Home Hub loaded with energy-saving features. The idea: connect your home’s smart meter to Google Assistant for instant insights into your power use.
With the Reliant Energy program in Texas, homeowners can say, “Hey Google, ask Reliant how much electricity am I using?” and see an instant chart of their current energy use. That visibility makes it easy to adjust habits and cut costs before the bill arrives.
Voice Commands That Work
Once connected, you can ask Google:
How much electricity am I using?
What’s my bill or balance?
When is my bill due?
What plan am I on?
More utilities – including Xcel Energy and Indiana Michigan Power – are rolling out similar features. Expect this list of commands and providers to grow.
The Bigger Picture
“Consumers are shifting from mobile to ambient computing,” says Aaron Berndt, Google’s head of energy partnerships. “We’re working with utilities to make energy management easy and intuitive.”
As smart speakers become standard in new homes, these voice-driven energy insights are likely to follow. Beyond energy tracking your Google Home Hub can also control 10,000+ smart home devices – from thermostats to cameras. Tap the screen for a live doorbell feed or adjust lights room by room.
Bottom Line: Smart tech is no longer just convenient – it’s cost-effective. By linking your smart speaker to your utility, you can see where your energy dollars are going and make smarter choices in real time.
Looking for a perfect fit that checks off your smart home needs? Choose from the comprehensive new home listings on NewHomeSource.com.
Julie Gordey
A lifelong educator, Julie Gordey, is a retired school administrator. After years of focusing on education, this University of Texas graduate now travels and enjoys freelance writing for BDX and NewHomeSource.com.