The Smart Grid (Hopefully) Cometh

After a wait that seemed ever-so-slightly like forever, Wired’s cover package on smartening up the electric grid is finally here. I wrote the lead essay, which is mostly a primer on how the grid got so FUBAR in the first place. The bite-size answer? Myopia, botched deregulation, and political bickering.

It was difficult to even address the tip of the smart-grid iceberg in 2,000 words, so a heckuva lot ended up on the cutting-room floor. For the remainder of the week, I’ll be offering exclusive sm