By Liz Enbysk

SGN Managing Editor

It's been more than a year since we checked in on the Pecan Street Project, Austin's community-scale testing ground for smart grid technologies. At the time we got an inside look at plans and next steps.

“To be relevant, smart grid innovations must solve consumers’ problems and provide services that excite them,” said Pecan Street Inc. executive director Brewster McCracken.  “We are thrilled to have these forward-thinking companies working with our researchers and with the hundreds of residents who are volunteering their homes and their time.”

We've said before that what the smart grid needs is a dose of Disney-style magic to engage consumers. It appears from the list of consumer giants signing on to this Pecan Street initiative that we may finally see some razzle-dazzle. Here are a couple examples of what's on tap for Pecan Street's volunteers:

Inside the home: Best Buy with Check-It, as well as Intel, Sony and Whirlpool, will deploy home services systems that serve as the operating platform for consumer smart grid products and services. These systems can provide consumers with a range of home security, energy management, health care monitoring, home improvement, entertainment and labor-saving services. In many of the participating homes, the systems will be capable of measuring and reporting near real-time usage of electricity or natural gas and water. In addition, Best Buy and Whirlpool will test smart appliances and provide guidance and research collaboration on integrating smart appliances into home services systems.