Smart grids, smart cities need better networks [Editor´s Note]

Near the end of October 2009, U.S. President Obama announced $3.4 billion in federal stimulus grants for 100 projects related to the smart grid, as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, with another $4.7 billion expected to be matched by companies. The smart grid refers to a modernization of the existing power grid, which is characterized by unidirectional energy distribution, centralized energy generation, fixed consumer tariffs, and relatively simple meters. Most electricity meters are not capable of communications and must be read manually. Some meters are more advanced with communications capability, but the vast majority of them can only transmit data for remote reading and cannot receive data.