This week, Google demonstrated PowerMeter, a home energy consumption prototype Web application. Using smart meter technology allows consumers to decrease energy usage by appliance.

Rather than working through utility companies, like other smart grid companies, Google is striving to make home energy data available in real time. To help gain popularity, Google is developing partnerships with hardware manufacturers, utility companies, and government entities. By building a custom application using PowerMeter or the Google gadget platform, a smart meter company could easily make their information available too.

The push towards more smart grid technology continues. According to Parks Associates research, the number of U.S. households with smart meters is projected to increase to 6 million by 2012.

To read more about this, visit Martin LaMonica's article on CNET, "Google crashes the smart-grid party."