AI WORLD HQSet up Alexa+ to monitor and report daily energy usage
Get a nightly summary of your electricity consumption so you can spot waste and save on bills.
Hook: By the end of this guide you’ll have Alexa+ whispering a quick energy‑usage recap each night, helping you see where the power is going and where you might trim your bill. It’s written for anyone who’s never fiddled with smart‑home tech before – no prior knowledge needed.
- Amazon account – you need the same login you use for shopping on Amazon.
- Alexa app – download the free app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) and install it on a smartphone or tablet.
- A compatible energy‑monitoring device – this could be an Amazon Smart Plug, a third‑party smart plug with energy‑reading capability, or a dedicated whole‑home monitor that advertises “Works with Alexa”.
- Wi‑Fi network – the device and your phone must be on the same home Wi‑Fi (2.4 GHz is usually safest).
- Time – set aside about 10 minutes for the whole process.
You’ll need all of these before you begin; otherwise you’ll run into a roadblock midway.
Install the Alexa app and sign in
Open the app store on your phone, search for “Alexa”, and tap Install. Once installed, tap the Alexa icon to launch the app. You’ll see a welcome screen that asks you to Sign in with your Amazon email and password – just like you would on the shopping site. After you sign in, the home screen shows a large blue circle with a microphone icon in the centre and a menu bar at the bottom. If you don’t see the blue circle, look for a screen that says “Let’s get you set up” – it’s the same starting point.
You’ll know it worked when the app displays the Home tab with your profile picture in the top‑right corner and a list of suggested “Things to try”.
Add your energy‑monitoring device to Alexa
In the Alexa app, tap the Devices icon (shaped like a house) at the bottom of the screen. The Devices page shows a + button in the top‑right corner; tap it. A menu pops up asking what you want to add – choose Add Device. Scroll the list until you see the type that matches your hardware (e.g., “Smart Plug”) and tap it. The app will now ask you to put the plug in pairing mode; usually that means pressing a button on the plug until a light starts flashing. Follow that instruction, and the app will scan for the device. If you don’t see a flashing light, look for a button labelled Reset on the plug and hold it for a few seconds.
You’ll know it worked when the device appears in the Smart Home section with a name like “Living Room Plug” and shows a Power status (on/off).
Enable the Alexa+ Energy‑Usage skill
A “skill” is Amazon’s term for a mini‑app that adds new abilities to Alexa, much like an app on a phone. From the home screen, tap the More tab (three horizontal lines) at the bottom, then select Skills & Games. In the search box at the top, type Energy Monitor and hit the search icon. Look for a skill titled “Alexa+ Energy Usage” – the exact title may vary, but it will have “energy” in the name. Tap that skill, then press Enable to Use. The screen will ask you to confirm which devices can share energy data; choose the plug you added in Step 2 and confirm.
You’ll know it worked when the skill’s page shows a green Enabled banner and lists your plug as an authorised device.
Create a daily routine that sends a night‑time summary
In the Alexa app, return to the More tab and tap Routines. At the top‑right, tap the + button to add a new routine. First, give it a name – something like Daily Energy Summary – and tap Next. Under When this happens, choose Schedule, then set the time to 9:00 PM (or any time you prefer). Pick Every Day and confirm. Under Add action, tap Alexa Says, then select Custom and type the phrase “Give me my energy usage for today”. Finally, tap Save.
You’ll know it worked when the routine list shows your new routine with the correct time and the action line reading “Alexa says ‘Give me my energy usage for today’”.
Test the routine and view the report
It’s time to see Alexa in action. Wait until the scheduled time, or for an immediate test, tap the Play icon next to your newly created routine in the Routines screen. Alexa will respond with a spoken summary such as “Today you used 12 kilowatt‑hours, which is about $2.50”. If you hear the summary, the set‑up is complete. If you get silence, check that the smart plug is still plugged in and that the skill is still enabled; you may need to re‑run the discovery step (Step 2). Remember, Alexa+ can only report what the plug measures – it cannot read your utility meter directly without a compatible device.
You’ll know it worked when Alexa audibly tells you the kilowatt‑hour figure and you see a short card appear in the Alexa app showing the same numbers.
- Forgot to place the plug on the same Wi‑Fi: The device won’t appear in the app. Fix it by reconnecting the plug to your home network (usually via the plug’s own companion app) and repeat Step 2.
- Skipped enabling notifications for routines: Without a notification, you won’t hear the nightly report. Open Settings → Notifications in the Alexa app and ensure “Routines” is turned on.
- Used the wrong time zone: If your night‑time summary arrives at an odd hour, check the Device Settings → Time Zone for your Echo or phone and correct it, then adjust the routine time.
Pick up your phone, open the Alexa app, and say “Alexa, what’s my energy usage today?” If you hear a number, you’ve already completed the core of the set‑up. If not, revisit Step 2 and make sure your device is connected. This two‑minute test gives you instant feedback and a sense of progress. Happy saving!
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✦ Original step-by-step guide by AI World HQ's AI editorial team. Written in plain language, reviewed for accuracy.
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