A smart grid is a transactive grid.
- Lynne Kiesling
Author Archive

The Electricity Economy

Via Green Tech Media, an interesting report on Cisco’s intentions to provide “an end-to-end, highly secure network infrastructure solution” for the Smart Grid and everything it touches.   As the article notes: “…Cisco’s strategy is to ensure that there is one, consistent, IP-based infrastructure for the electric power industry – a standards-based foundation that will ultimately […]

Read more »



Smart Grids: Where Information & Data Flows As Easily As Water & Electricity

Via The Financial Times, an interesting article on the convergence of information technology (IT) and utilities.  As the article notes: “…An unlikely marriage is being consummated. On one side is a monolithic industry, cautious, highly regulated and focused on ubiquity, reliability and affordability. On the other is an aggressively competitive sector with rapid product cycles […]

Read more »



Smart Grids and Distributed Capitalism

Via The Energy Collective, an interesting article on Economist Jeremy Rifkin’s plans to simultaneously solve the economic and energy crises via a pan-European strategy of small-scale energy generation and smart energy grids that make everyone a partner in energy.  As the article notes: “…in Mr Rifkin’s grand plan, every citizen of the EU would participate […]

Read more »



Every British Home To Have A Smart Meter By 2020

Via The Guardian, a report that every home in the UK must be fitted with a “smart meter” by 2020 to reduce energy use and pave the way for a low-carbon “smart grid”, under plans unveiled by the British government.  As the article notes: “…The new meters will send information on real-time electricity and gas […]

Read more »



Smart Grids Need To Emphasize Consumer Applications

Via Earth2Tech, an interesting report on Google & technology firms’ thoughts on the smart grid stimulus plan.  As the article notes, Google is placing heavy emphasis on the consumer side of the equation – with which we agree: both for electricity AND water: “…More interesting is Google’s comments on involving consumer applications and smart meter […]

Read more »



Smart Grid = Green Grid ?

Again courtesy of NPR’s Power Hungry series, a report on whether or not a smart grid would necessarily be a green grid.  As the article notes: The push is on to make the nation’s aging electricity grid smarter, so it can handle growing demand for electricity. Many assume that a smart grid will also be […]

Read more »


About This Blog And Its Authors
Grid Unlocked is powered by two eco-preneurs who analyze and reference articles, reports, and interviews that can help unlock the nascent, complex and expanding linkages between smart meters, smart grids, and above all: smart markets.

Based on decades of experience and interest in conservation, Monty Simus believes that a truly “smart” grid must be a “transactive” grid, unshackled from its current status as a so-called “natural monopoly.”

In short, an unlocked grid must adopt and harness the power of markets to incentivize individual users, linked to each other on a large scale, who change consumptive behavior in creative ways that drive efficiency and bring equity to use of the planet's finite and increasingly scarce resources.