Energy management is moving into mainstream markets. Smart meter deployments will reach 56 million by 2015, at which time 45% of U.S. households will have a smart meter. Smart meters and the data they generate will enable utilities to add services to improve their relationship with consumers. Energy management systems can mine each customer's smart meter data and provide meaningful comparisons, individualized recommendations, and real-time feedback on usage anomalies. Broadband and security providers are starting to offer energy management and home controls. Offerings from early entrants ADT and Verizon will be followed by offerings from Time Warner Cable, Comcast, and AT&T. Among U.S. broadband households, energy monitoring has the highest appeal among possible value-added services, followed by energy management services, but the revenue potential from these services may be limited, as no single payment plan gets the majority of support. As a result, there are several different paths to market, e.g., bundling energy management with remote control and monitoring; offering an energy monitoring service for a nominal fee; and packaging energy management with security and remote control. Big-box retailers are also entering the market. Lowe's is offering energy management products with the launch of its Iris platform.

Enhanced capabilities offered by IP-based security will expand the percentage of U.S. households with professionally monitored services to 30% by 2020. Of the 30% of U.S. households with security in 2020, more than half will have IP-based services. Broadband ISPs will capture 80% of the IP-based security market.

More manufacturers are entering the electric vehicle market. The U.S. Department of Energy is providing more than $175 million to 40 projects across 15 states over the next three to five years to accelerate the development of technologies for energy-efficient vehicles. Globally, transportation accounts for close to 60% of oil consumption and an estimated 30% of carbon emissions. The U.S. government is offering a maximum $7,500 tax credit for the purchase of an electric vehicle.

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