Actually there are probably as many definitions of a smart grid
as there are questions, "What is a smart grid?"
Everything put together to make a system more reliable
including measurement, monitoring, protection, equipment
are components of a smart grid.
I think the smart grid will definitely change the way
we use electricity as an individual customer.
Also, the smart grid is supposed to allow more penetration
of renewable resources like wind and other distributed generations.
There are a lot of areas we haven't explored.
Right now we only observe the system and try to digest what we saw.
But once we have more understanding we would be able to develop theory
and tools to control the system and eventually at that stage we can say,
"Yeah we are able to contribute in terms of preventing blackouts
and other failures that happen in the power grid."
UT offers a very unique opportunity, which combined with the lab--
Oak Ridge National Lab -- that nowhere else I can find.
Between UT and the National Lab I should be able to realize some of the dreams
that I won't be able to fulfill just working at a university on my own.