A University of Vermont professor has won a $400,000 National Science Foundation Career Award for his research proposal on "smart" electrical grids.

Senator Bernie Sanders is going to be talking about the benefits of "smart grid" technology for the state of Vermont.

Smart grid is a concept that has been gaining traction and attention in the field of electric utilities. Now, the University of Vermont is announcing a new multi-disciplinary program in smart grid.

Vermont Law School is studying the roll-out of smart grid technology by Central Vermont Public Service and six other utilities around the country. The school says the adoption of the technology by the state's largest electric utility is going well.

Smart meter technology allows customers to save electricity, and gives utilities the ability to respond quickly to power outages. But the wireless meters have also raised health and privacy concerns, and now voters in several southern Vermont towns will get a chance to weigh in at next month's town meetings.

Vermont's top health officer is telling lawmakers not to be overly worried about a form of radiation emitted by the wireless smart meters some Vermont utilities want to install in customers' homes and businesses.

The Vermont company that runs much of the electric distribution system in the state is joining with IBM to build a fiber optic control system designed to make the system more efficient and reliable.

The technology promises greater efficiency because consumers and utilities can collect information on how much power a household is using at certain times of day, but some say it violates privacy rights.

Three Vermont utilities have finalized an agreement to install "smart grid" electric technology and to expand broadband computer service. Green Mountain Power, Central Vermont Public Service and Vermont Telephone will work together.

Voters in Burlington are in favor of a $13.5 million bond that will allow the city's electric department to upgrade the system and implement a smart-grid.

Voters in Burlington go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether the city should invest in smart grid technology. Supporters say that new technology would improve energy efficiency by decreasing demand. Opponents argue it is dangerous and costly.

Over the next two years, utility companies in the state will be rolling out ‘smart grid' technology, which will include bringing smart meters to every home and business in the state.

In 2009, the Department of Energy awarded Vermont $69 million in stimulus funds for smart grid implementation. The goal is to have a statewide smart grid in place by 2013. The state and utilities are now working to make that happen.

Vermont Law School in South Royalton is getting a $450,000 grant to do research on smart grid technology.

Efforts to bring Vermont's electrical grid into the 21st Century is getting a big boost.

Vermont has been awarded a $69 million federal grant that could revolutionize how consumers pay for electricity in the future.

Vermont utilities have teamed up to apply for a $66 million federal stimulus grant to upgrade the Vermont electricity grid.