National Grid in the US is proposing a $44m project to pilot smart grid technology with 15000 customers in the town of Worcester, Massachusetts.

The project would aim to help customers take greater control of how they use energy, improve energy efficiency and increase electric system reliability.

National Grid will install 5000 smart meters ahead of the pilot, in partnership with an as yet unnamed smart meter supplier.

Cloud computing will also be used in the project to enable National Grid to keep and manage the customer data most effectively, while also cutting costs.

National Grid is now awaiting approval for the project, which was first mooted in 2009 and then withdrawn and redrafted last year, from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU).

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