All this time you thought utilities were interested in smart meters and other demand response systems to save power and cut costs. They are, but fear has also become a big motivator, says Jesse Berst, Managing Director of Global Smart Energy, who stopped by our offices late last week to chat. Grid stability has become a major issue in the past few years. Potential transmission breakdowns used to occur once a week or so. Now, it's almost a daily occurrence. Sometimes, a utility can experience a transmission crisis a few times a day. "It is getting really scary," he said. Several utilities are also reaching maximum capacity. Harvesting inefficiently used power from the grid beats trying to build new power plants. And even if they could build them quick, utilities would have to obtain permits and financing. "Even in the Pacific Northwest [with lots of hydroelectric power] we are running out," he said. The push toward renewables will further add instability to the grid. Unlike coal or nuclear, solar and wind can only provide intermittent power right now. Systems for storing renewable energy temporarily (with flywheels, ultracapacitors or lithium-ion batteries) or persistently (with sodium batteries or pumped hydro) remain in the experimental stage.