US puts $4.5 billion into smart meters

The US government is putting $4.5 billion into a fund to build 'smart' power grids (smart grids) to encourage.

The federal subsidies should accelerate the conversion of traditional electromechanical networks to digitally controlled networks. Energy companies should thus be able to deliver electricity to their customers more efficiently, at lower costs and with less environmental pollution. President Obama had smart grid construction high on the agenda in his election campaign.