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Italy: Smart grid world leaders


By Dan Jones | 11/18/09 - 08:28

http://www.ngpowereu.com/news/italy-smart-grid/

Energy analysts in Italy will tell you that they had smart grids before the term even entered into the industries common lexicon.

- Digital smart meters have been mandatory for all electricity providers in Italy since early 2006, and the government's vision is for 95 percent of customers of the approximately 100 electricity companies to be on smart meters by 2011.

- Many believe that 2010 will finally be the year when smart grids go global, and while many nations - including the US - have been championing the technology, they are all playing catch up to the Italians. Washington recently put aside US$4.5 billion from its stimulus package to smarten up the nations antiquated electricity grid and subsidize the roll-out of smart meters nationwide.