SPAN is no longer supporting new connections with Alexa. Customers that are already connected with Alexa can continue to use the feature as long as they remain connected. As we continue evolving the SPAN experience, we’ll focus on delivering the most seamless and impactful ways to manage and automate your home’s energy. We’re reviewing new and improved ways to deliver similar functionality that would make it even easier and more intuitive to control and monitor your home’s energy usage.
Homeowners who are connected can use Alexa commands to manage their SPAN Panel and to check their solar and battery states. They can also use the Alexa App to schedule when circuits automatically go on/off using the "Routines" feature. This can help homeowners reduce their energy usage during peak hours, reducing their utility bills. This document describes the steps to accomplish this task.
Alexa Voice Commands
Below you will find available SPAN functions and Alexa voice commands. Give it a try yourself!
| Function | Voice Command |
| Check how much battery you have remaining | "Alexa, ask SPAN how long my battery will last" "Alexa, ask SPAN how much backup I have if I lost power" "Alexa, ask SPAN am I prepared for an outage" |
| Learn how to increase your battery time | "Alexa, ask SPAN how can I increase my battery time" "Alexa, ask SPAN what I can do to extend my backup time" |
| Check how much solar energy your panels are producing | "Alexa, ask SPAN what's my solar doing" "Alexa, ask SPAN how much solar energy I am producing" |
| Learn more about solar energy | "Alexa, ask SPAN to tell me about solar" "Alexa, ask SPAN how I can make my house more sustainable" |
| Check your home priorities | "Alexa, ask SPAN what are my priorities" "Alexa, ask SPAN what are my backup settings" |
| Change a space priority | "Alexa, tell SPAN to change (stove) to (must have) priority" "Alexa, tell SPAN to change priority of (washer) to (not essential)" |
| Turn on/off a space | "Alexa, tell SPAN to turn (EV charger) (on)" |
| Place your house on or off the main grid | "Alexa, tell SPAN to take my house on/off-grid" "Alexa, tell SPAN to take me on/off utility grid" |
| Check how much power a space is using | "Alexa, ask SPAN how much power my (kitchen) is using" "Alexa, ask SPAN status of (kitchen)" |
| Check what space is using the most energy in your house | "Alexa, ask SPAN what is using the most power right now" |
Alexa should be able to understand different variations of the voice commands listed above, but if for some reason Alexa doesn't, try the following:
- Open SPAN Alexa Skill by asking "Alexa, open SPAN", then try the voice command.
- This will allow Alexa to be more prepared in understanding your different areas.
- Rename areas to something shorter or more differentiating.
- Example: Change "Bedroom 1" and "Bedroom 2" to "Mark's Bedroom" and "Kate's Bedroom."
- You can change an area name by going to the specific area and hitting "Edit" next to the space's name.
Alexa App Settings
- In the Alexa App, select “Devices” to see all your SPAN circuits listed.
- Select the SPAN circuit you wish to schedule.
- Turning a SPAN Circuit "OFF" “ON”
- Turning OFF
- NAME the routine (ex: “Turn Off Exterior Lights Daily”)
- Select “Repeat” and check-mark preferred days of the week
- Select a time of day “When It’s” (ex: when TOU rate tier changes in the afternoon)
- Define Action “Alexa Will” with the “+” sign. Select Device “schedule to define circuit scheduling
- Turning On
- Select the circuit to be turned on (ex: Exterior Lights”)
- Define the routine name (ex: “Turn On Exterior Lights Daily”)
- Select “Repeat” and identify the preferred days of the week
- Select the time of day when you want to control the circuit
- Add Action by selecting “Alexa Says” with the “+” sign
- Select custom
- Input the command you wish Alexa to complete “turn on exterior lights”
- Identify the device this action should be completed on.
- Turning OFF