Gawkwire: Web Hosting and Internet News Resource: FAQ: What the smart grid means to you

FAQ: What the smart grid means to you
================================================================================
Martin LaMonica (cnet) on 10 July, 2009 12:40:00
 
(cnet) The smart grid follows the footsteps of the Internet and the interstate
highway system--they are giant investments in infrastructure. It's not so much a
single thing as it is a goal to give the electricity system a digital makeover
to make it more efficient and reliable.
Governments and utilities around the world are devoting billions of dollars to
lay new transmission lines and make the electricity network operate more like
the computer networks we access every day. Big tech vendors and hundreds of
start-ups are jockeying for prominence in the smart grid.
The buzz reflects how important reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy is to
our modern lifestyle and economy. But what does it mean for individuals? And
what technologies make up the smart grid? To give you a clue on what the
smart-grid fuss is all about, we offer this FAQ. ...Go to source