Can smart meters avert the impending European financial meltdown? Probably not, but anything is worth a shot.

At the annual Metering, Billing/CRM Europe Conference in Amsterdam more than 4000 smart metering experts will gather to discuss the practicality of the EU’s 2020 deadline for 80 percent of all households to have smart meters. As it stands, the European Commission estimates that Europe is on course to achieve only half of the 20 percent primary energy consumption savings objective. There’s a push coming from those involved in the smart metering project to ensure that the goals are met and the smart meter is seen as a “financially viable, technologically agile and consumer friendly tool for energy efficiency.”

Looks like the race is on!

Although I’m not certain that our government has any such smart metering goals. And in the midst of a low-grade financial crisis of our own, I get the feeling that installing smart meters across the country isn’t a priority at the top. What’s more, the deployment of these technologies appears to be largely up to each state.

According to a report on SmartPlanet.com, the top ten U.S. states leading the way in smart grid deployment (as of July, 2010) were:

  • California
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Massachusetts
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Texas
  • Good to see California topping the list, particularly given its population and yearly energy concerns (particularly in big cities like San Diego!).

    What has your state done to introduce more smart grid technology?