A smart grid delivers electricity from suppliers to consumers using two-way digital technology to control appliances at villages or consumers' homes to save energy, reduce cost and increase reliability and transparency.

Such a modernized electricity network is being promoted by UE as a way of addressing energy independence and global warming.

Wattpic smart grid includes an intelligent monitoring system that keeps track of all electricity flowing in the system. It also incorporates the capability of integrating alternative sources of electricity such as solar and wind and photovoltaics.

When power is least expensive a smart grid could turn on selected home appliances such as washing machines or factory processes that can run at arbitrary hours. At peak times it could turn off selected appliances to reduce demand.