Images: The many faces of the smart grid

Google PowerMeter

The big Web and IT companies are pushing into the smart grid in various ways. Google made a splash earlier this year when it introduced PowerMeter, a Web application (or Google gadget) that displays how much electricity a home uses and how much each appliance consumes. It's the sort of information that's available once a smart meter or other gateway is installed and it helps consumers finds ways to trim their bills.

Photo by Google

Caption by Martin LaMonica