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Xcel customers can start using Google Assistant to pay their bills

The service announced this week is Xcel's latest collaboration with Google.

May 16, 2019 at 3:49PM
Pictured is a Google Home Hub. The Google Assistant voice command option will now be available to Xcel customers.
Pictured is a Google Home Hub. The Google Assistant voice command option will now be available to Xcel customers. (Cathy Roberts — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Xcel Energy customers with Google Assistant will be able to access their accounts with verbal commands, including to pay bills.

The Minneapolis-based electricity and gas provider announced the service this week, which Xcel says builds on its collaboration with Google.

Xcel launched its first set of actions for Google Assistant last year, allowing customers to access information about energy efficiency improvements for their homes.

Now, Xcel customers with Google Assistant can verbally find out balances and due dates, as well as pay monthly bills.

Once their Xcel and Google Assistant accounts are linked, customers can retrieve their utility information by saying, "OK Google, pay my energy bill," Xcel said in a press statement.

In the future, Xcel expects that customers will be able to verbally personalize their energy management through Google Assistant.

Google Assistant is available on more than one billion devices, including Google Nest Hub, Google Home and iPhones with the Assistant app, according to Xcel.

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about the writer

about the writer

Mike Hughlett

Reporter

Mike Hughlett covers energy and other topics for the Minnesota Star Tribune, where he has worked since 2010. Before that he was a reporter at newspapers in Chicago, St. Paul, New Orleans and Duluth.

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