[This is an EXCERPT; read the whole article here. -Ed.]

[With smarter technology, the power grid] "will stop being merely a passive supplier of juice. Instead, power companies will be able to cue us... to make choices about when and how we consume power. And most likely, we'll have our computers and appliances carry out those decisions for us.

"Done right, the smarter grid should save consumers money in the long run by reducing the need for new power plants, which we pay off in our monthly electric bills. However, if people fail to react properly to conservation signals, their bills could spike.

"And certainly a smart grid that can encourage us to conserve will feel different. Envision your kitchen appliances in silent communication with their power source: The fridge bumps its temperature up a degree on one day, and the dishwasher kicks on a bit later on another.

"Smart-grid technologies have gotten small tests throughout North America, as utilities and regulators scout how to coax people to reduce their demand for power. But there's little doubt it's coming. The utility Xcel Energy Inc. plans to soon begin a $100 million smart grid project reaching 100,000 homes in Boulder, Colo."