From its inception, electricity has always had a transformative effect on consumers. The smart grid could be the next installment in electricity’s trajectory - a response to a world where resources are scarce and the looming specter of climate change grows more severe each day. The smart grid provides a novel, interconnected response to modern constraints, asking each consumer to take ownership of their needs for the benefit of the entire grid. As the examples herein illustrate, the smart grid can make a meaningful impact on the energy world, diminishing grid-wide congestion while simultaneously empowering individuals and communities. The path forward, however, is far from secure. Issues related to privacy, cyber security, and economic scalability,
