Automating the power grid: Real-time communication between customers, the electricity grid, and power plants can cut costs for both supplier and user; the technology options are many

In the ideal world, computers at utilities would directly monitor electricity use by each consumer. Many studies have demonstrated that power utilities can save money through real-time monitoring and control of all points along their distribution systems. But a real-time system requires communication between thousands of units in the field and a central computer, where the intelligence is available to process the data and transmit control commands. And it is here that utilities have come a cropper.