Jeremy Rifkin is one of the folks who wants energy to be "democratized". http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/26/jeremy-rifkin-democratization-of-energy-green-technology_n_980222.html

Smart grid could help with that, but there's a long way to go. The Internet with all the familiar consumer aspects is having a hard enough time moving through things like cybersecurity and privacy, but ultimately the smart grid -- one manifestation of the "Internet of Things -- will lead to more innovation and better options for stakeholders, both consumers and new ventures alike. That is, provided, that incumbents don't kill off such progress through the normal means (politics, regulatory attacks, etc.).