Rio was even worse and has become the most expensive city in Brazil when consider square meter pricing.

FORBES: Brazil's High Flying Real Estate Prices Outpace All Countries

But for computing to be bought and sold as a utility, firms must be able to switch vendors, to do it for all their computing functions, and with meter-based pricing.

ECONOMIST: The future of computing

The solution to this dilemma is to make real-time (and day-ahead) pricing and meter data information to the customer at all times.

FORBES: Engaging the Electric Grid - From Information to Intelligence

Without dynamic pricing, the payback for smart meter investments could be as low as 14 billion euros, the Brattle report concludes.

FORBES: Energy

"Meter benefits will depend on who steps up with pricing plans, " says Exelon's Jensen.

FORBES: Energy

By communicating with a smart meter, Nucleus will let people program appliances to take advantage of off-peak pricing plans offered by utilities that have time-of-use electricity plans.

FORBES: Get yourself connected: GE at CES 2011

Not all customers need to sign up for advanced pricing schemes for overall savings from operations and lower energy use to exceed the cost of smart meter programs, says Val Jensen, VP of marketing and environmental programs at ComEd.

FORBES: Energy