Utilities and energy

Keep the lights on for customers who are struggling. And keep the record that proves you did.

Utility calls spike with the weather and the billing cycle, and some of the most important ones come from customers facing disconnection. Our voice agents handle outages, moves and billing at any volume, and recognize the moment a customer needs a protection, a program or a person.

spine·voice · utility inbound
disconnect notice · protections check
VoiceAI · Disconnection notice calllive
Customer

I got a shut-off notice. My husband is on oxygen at home. We can’t lose power.

Agent

Thank you for telling me. I’m noting a medical need on the account and bringing in a specialist who can pause the notice with you.

tool · flag_medical_need(pending_certificate) ✓ 120 ms
write gate · disconnection hold routed to specialist
account verifiedvulnerability · medicalhold gated
call #U-55108 · identity ✓ · medical need flagged · assistance programs checked · specialist joined · audit:chained ✓ ·
Disconnection notice with a medical need, simulated · rendered by spine·voice
then a specialist places the protection →
SPINE · PROTECTION · call #U-55108live
step 02Read balance and notice dateread only, runs freeAuto · read
step 04Place disconnection holdnamed specialist, certificate requestedHeld · human
✓ approved · named specialist · audit entry signed
What we automate and assist

From the storm-night outage line to the billing cycle peak.

Utility flows are configured in Agent Studio around your tariffs, programs and service territory rules, and tested with synthetic customers before launch.

01

Outage reporting and updates

Report an outage, hear the latest restoration estimate and get a text when power returns. Why it matters: the outage line never goes busy on the night it matters most.

02

Start, stop and move service

Move dates, addresses and identity checks captured, with the order held for your rules. Why it matters: one of the highest volume call types handled end to end.

03

High bill enquiries

Usage history explained in plain words, with weather and rate changes called out. Why it matters: fewer complaints escalate when customers understand the bill.

04

Payment arrangements

Installments offered inside policy, with anything outside it sent to a specialist. Why it matters: more balances on a plan and fewer disconnections.

05

Assistance program enrollment

Eligibility for budget billing and assistance programs checked and explained. Why it matters: customers who qualify for help actually receive it.

06

Disconnection and reconnection

Notice calls with protections checked first. Reconnection is booked once a payment clears. Why it matters: the most sensitive conversation is handled the same careful way every time.

07

Meter reads and appointments

Customer meter reads taken and technician access appointments booked. Why it matters: fewer estimated bills and fewer missed visits.

08

Gas leak and safety calls

Any mention of a gas smell or downed line ends automation and routes to your emergency process. Why it matters: safety is never left in a queue.

spine·voice // liveassist · call #U-5514205:10_
LiveAssist · Winter arrearslive
Customer

I’m a pensioner and the heating bill has just gone up again.

Advisor

Let’s look at what support you’re entitled to before we talk about payments.

tool · program_eligibility(age, usage) ✓ 2 matches
Next best action

Offer budget billing and the senior assistance program. Add to the priority services list.

Compliance
  • Winter protection applies ✓
  • Vulnerability recorded
  • No disconnection talk
redaction on · audit chainedEnroll
Winter arrears with a vulnerable customer, simulated · rendered by spine·voice
Compliance we handle

Disconnection rules differ by state and season. The agent knows which apply.

Spine is designed to support commission rules on disconnection notices, medical certificates and winter or extreme weather protections, UK expectations for priority services and vulnerable customers, TCPA rules for outbound notices and PCI DSS for payments.

  • Protections checked before any collections talkMedical needs, seasonal moratoria and program eligibility are checked first, so a protected customer is never pressed for payment.
  • Vulnerability recognized in the conversationAge, illness, disability or distress is flagged and routed to a trained person with the context captured.
  • Territory-aware rulesTime-of-day, notice periods and contact frequency follow the rules for the customer’s service area.
  • Card data never storedPayment details are redacted from transcripts and logs.
  • Evidence for the regulatorEvery protection placed, every program offered and every handover sits on a tamper-evident audit chain.
How AI and people split the work

The agent absorbs the surge. People handle the hardship.

01 · VoiceAI

Volume and peaks

Outages, moves, meter reads, bill questions and in-policy arrangements, 24/7 and at storm-night volume.

02 · Your advisors

Protections and exceptions

Medical needs, vulnerable customers, disputes and arrangements outside policy go to a specialist with context in LiveAssist.

03 · Customer operations leaders

Why customers call

NEQQO shows the drivers of contact by cycle and territory, and Auto QA checks every call for protections and tone.

Products for utilities

What a utility deploys first.

01

VoiceAI agents

Outage, billing and service calls that scale with the weather.

02

LiveAssist

Program eligibility, protection prompts and next best action for advisors.

03

Insights (NEQQO)

Contact drivers after a rate change, a storm or a billing run.

04

Auto QA

Every call checked for protections, vulnerability handling and required notices.

05

Supervisor assist

A live view of the floor during a surge, with whisper and barge.

06

Integrations

Billing and customer information systems, outage feeds and payment links.

Book a demo

Hear a disconnection call handled with the protection in place.

Bring your territory rules and your assistance programs. We will simulate a surge night and a vulnerable customer, and show the record each call leaves.