Should smart meters provide real-time pricing info? Google thinks yes, but utilities say 'not so fast'

Interesting analysis over at Earth2Tech blog about whether or not the onus should be on utility companies to provide near real-time pricing info to consumers via smart meters. Seems Google supports a proposal by the California Public Utilities Commission suggesting that the state should require real-time pricing information for anyone with smart meters by the end of 2010. But utilities in the state are saying: "Not so fast." Apparently, the disagreement is over whether the utilities should be providing just energy usage information versus pricing information. Providing usage information, not such a problem. Real-time pricing info? Apparently, not as easy as you would think, even though one of the things that utilities keep touting as a benefit to consumers is their ability to adjust their usage in response to rate differences throughout the course of a day. Definitely worth a read if you're following smart grid developments.