The 131, 000-home smart grid test it is runnning in Illinois will offer customers a variety of dynamic pricing options, with the goal of understanding which options customers feel most comfortable with.

FORBES: Energy

To be sure, some infrastructure projects might pass that cost-benefit test (perhaps electric grid modernization, or unclogging strategic rail bottlenecks).

WSJ: Opinion: Corporate Tax Cuts Needed

The U.S. Department of Energy has approved billions of dollars to technology developers such as Silver Spring and a bunch of utilities to test and deploy smart grid technologies across the country.

FORBES: Silver Spring Networks Files IPO For Smart Grid Tech