Most homes already have a smart meter that digitally communicates with the electric grid. If you're looking to get rooftop solar panels, a smart meter is an essential piece of equipment. Here's why.

Utility companies claim smart meters save customers money. But that isn’t always the case.

For the past few years, activists of various stripes -- environmentalists, liberals, some tea party folks, and others -- have been protesting the installation of smart meters in Northern California ...