Making Meters Smarter, Home by Home. By Rachael King, Business Week, October 8, 2009. "A sweeping overhaul is coming to the 157,000 miles of high-voltage electric transmission lines that crisscross the U.S., delivering energy to 130 million homes. But the changes are happening one laptop-sized machine at a time. These small computers, being installed in homes and businesses around the country, will essentially create a two-way line of communication between energy consumers and the utility providers that dispense power. Known as smart meters, they're designed to give users greater control over electricity bills while helping power companies better manage fluctuating electricity demand. But the verdict remains out on just how much they're helping end users trim bills… smart meters let power companies charge varying rates, based on demand... These smart meters [can] serve as a bridge to home networks that will eventually include dishwashers, washing machines, air conditioners, and other appliances. A chip in the smart meter will let third-party developers create software to build products and services that take advantage of that two-way communication with the utility -- such as dishwashers that can be programmed to run only when rates are below a certain threshold."
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