Here’s a thought on the power of Google PowerMeter.
So far Google have partnered with eight utilities worldwide to provide end to end assistance in creating smart grids.

This gives Google an in to the electric grid and all appliances that sail on it.
Utilizing each appliance’s cyclic power signature Google can in theory tell who is using what appliance and in what state of repair each appliance is.

So imagine your toaster coil is wearing down. You don’t know it. Google does.
Google also knows your IP, your browsing habits, and when you’re likely to turn you laptop on for some smart grid research.

BAMMO!
Search Google for some smart grid action and there you have it, a brand new Kitchen Aid toasting device before you knew you even needed it.

Of course there are a whole slew of privacy issues here that Google aren’t silly enough to jump into, but you had better believe that PowerMeter doesn’t just mean Smart Grids, it means Sneaky, Nosey Grids too.