http://gigaom.com/2009/07/02/smart-meters-that-can-tweet-from-a-utility-that-gets-broadband

1) utilities will never control home appliances without consumer consent

2) you obviously do not understand the economics of outfitting a meter to
“using the home’s existing broadband connection to report usage”

3) utilities need to network 100% of the population, not just those with
existing Internet or broadband connections. the meter is their cash register; they cannot rely on customer owned-managed network access for Billing and consumption reduction

4) elected or appointed regulators of electric monopolies, which approve
rate cases, work on behalf of the public (there is no ‘involuntary’
funding)

5) the planet is in crisis. voluntary adoption (“30% over 10 years”) of smart metering is no
longer an option. grid efficiency and conservation must be improved
now.

6) a wireless broadband network funded with utility capital investment
affords an historical opportunity to bridge the digital divide, in
locations where cable is not economically feasible and dsl is not
technically feasible, thus enabling tremendous socio-economic benefits
to society.

The bureaucracy (Power companies, regulators) are apparently attempting to implement a top-down,
centrally controlled solution:
They fund (well, you fund indirectly and involuntarily) and deliver a smart power meter to your house,
including a NEW transport network so they can communicate with the smart meter.
All communication with the home-based infrastructure goes through them
They make the decisions about turning things off/on inside your house.

This seems like a really bad idea, and it is no wonder things are going so slowly.

Here is what I would propose:

The power companies should certify a number of “compatible” smart meters that
end users can purchase and install
These power meters would offer a WiFi/enet connection that the user can plug into
their existing broadband solution.
The embedded computer inside the meter would “phone home” to the power company
via an encrypted tunnel, giving the power company the info it needs.
A second control/status port would be provided to the user, so they could read and
control their power usage
People who choose to purchase and install these smart meters
would be offered metered power usage whose price varies by time-of-day, etc.
This would give users the economic incentive to move their consumption to
to off-peak/cheaper times.

These (vastly different) approaches are not mutually exclusive. We could enable the latter,
while still pursuing the former. I realize we won’t get any where near 100% deployment using
the approach I propose, but in 10 years, we think it is possible we could get 30-50% of the homes
to do this. And I would guess these are the homes that have higher energy usage.

We need to implement the Smart Grid like we implemented the Internet, bottom up.

The current Smart Grid looks like ITU/telco central planning all over again.

I know we are not at immediate launch date for such services right now, but I do not think WiMax is future proof to the visible light technology.