Group HI working with Northrop Grumman and other industry leaders is able provide smart grid solutions to overlay the electrical grid with information and broadband based metering systems.  The intent of smart grid will be to provide suppliers and consumers using broadband technologies with two-way communications to control appliances at consumers' homes to save energy, reduce cost and increase reliability and transparency.

In principle, the smart grid is a simple upgrade of 20th century power grids which generally "broadcast" power from a few central power generators to a large number of users, to instead be capable of routing power in more optimal ways to respond to a very wide range of conditions, and to charge a premium to those that use energy during peak hours.

The smart grid will be made possible by applying sensing, measurement and control devices with two-way communications to electricity production, transmission, distribution and consumption parts of the power grid that communicate information about grid condition to system users, operators and automated devices, making it possible to dynamically respond to changes in grid condition.

A smart grid includes an intelligent monitoring system that keeps track of all electricity flowing in the system and also incorporates the capability of integrating renewable electricity such as solar and wind. When power is least expensive the user can allow the smart grid to turn on selected home appliances such as washing machines or factory processes that can run at arbitrary hours. At peak times it could turn off selected appliances to reduce demand.