The Smart Power Grid Technology Conference (May 12 at the Santa Clara Biltmore, should be on a lot of calendars this coming May. Smart grid tech is a major new industry that is receiving a lot of bad press from a lack of knowledge and the only way to overcome that is by educating ourselves.

In particular, the session on "The Transformation of Ratepayers into Customers" will be a significant piece of information. Tom Tamarkin, president of the Uttility Services Customer Link, will set out a definition for the term "smart meters" that takes into account the concerns of the public.

Additional topics include, "Enabling the Smart Connected Home," and "the Role of Smart Lighting in the Smart Grid."