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Back in April we ran a story about smart grid funding falling off a cliff and M&A activity also dropping in the first quarter. Yet a month later Japanese electronics heavyweight Toshiba buys Swiss meter maker Landis+Gyr. GE's smart grid portfolio expands with its acquisition of FMC-Tech. Just weeks ago, Schneider Electric's smart grid ambitions became clear with news it will acquire Telvent. (For more on these companies, see Schneider smart grid, GE smart grid and Telvent smart grid.)

And those are just a few of the smart grid companies fattening their portfolios in recent months. As Jesse Berst noted on the heels of the Toshiba deal, Japanese industrials are now turning their attention to the smart grid and we shouldn't be surprised to see their Korean counterparts doing the same. With a weak dollar, this is a good time for foreign corporations to snap up American companies.

Which brings us to our Smart Grid Dream Team Challenge – and your chance to propose a merger of two companies you think should be joined at the smart grid hip.  We're not asking who you think will merge; instead, who you think should merge. Envision two companies that put together could rock the smart grid world. And tell us why in a sentence or two.

We'll take nominations until Friday, June 24. After that we'll run your nominations and ask SGN readers to vote on the ultimate Smart Grid Dream Team. To get the ball rolling, simply send an email to nominations@smartgridnews.com with your Smart Grid Dream Team nomination.