Echelon Corp (NASDAQ:ELON)

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/the-case-for-powerline-communications/

In fact, in my weekly update at GigaOM Pro (subscription required), I make the case that PLC may be set to capture a bigger share of the smart grid market than it has had so far.

That’s a bold assertion, given that wireless is king in all the major smart meter deployments and home energy networking plans underway in the U.S. today. But in Europe, PLC is taking a far larger role. Italy’s network of 30 million smart meters runs on PLC, based on technology from Echelon, and France and Spain are looking to PLC as their main way to link up multi-million-smart-meter networks that extend nationwide. Then there’s China, which wants a low-cost PLC technology to connect tens of millions of its households.

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display/2702271845/articles/utility-automation-engineering-td/volume-15/Issue_5/Features/Toward_a_Global_Smart_Grid_-_The_US_vs_Europe.html

As the smart grid gains traction around the globe, a brief understanding of some major differences between North American and European smart grid implementations is in order. In general, the two geographies have begun their efforts differently: wireless mesh in North America and power line carrier (PLC) in Europe. The emergence of radio frequency (RF) mesh solutions suitable for Europe, however, likely will cause an alignment of European and North American smart grid initiatives.

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90778/90860/7234002.html

China plans to invest 4 trillion yuan ($601 billion) to develop the smart grid over the next decade, China Securities Journalreported Tuesday.

The smart grid program is a part of China's plan to promote Internet of Things applications such as remote-control panels, clothes that talk to washing machines, virtual health care and vehicle-to-vehicle communications.

"The smart grid system is the top priority in China's Internet of Things development," the newspaper cited unidentified people as saying, adding details will be unveiled around December 30.