Google's tail won't wag the dog. Big players already control the smart grid and its already-open standards. Google's SmartMeter is likely to remain more of a novelty than a game-changer.
Smart Meters are hitting the news with ever increasing frequency (which means I really should pull my finger out and finish off a detailed post on them one day) - The (UK) Telegraph reports that "Smart metering alone will not make Britain meet its 2050 carbon emission targets. But the necessary cuts will not be made without them." - Smart metering is essential to hit 2050 cardon emission targets.