In the future energy system the energy flow will go both to and from the customers and local producers. Through use of Information and Connunication technology in a larger scale, the intelligent grid has to be developed, where the active customers are involved in the control of the power system.
Use of Smart grids technologies is of special relevance for the low voltage distribution grid, since the transmission and regional power grid at higher voltage levels are already "smart".
The Smart grids-vision is described in EUs SET plan where Smart grid is defined as ”an electricity network that can intelligently integrate the actions of all users connected to it - generators, consumers and those that do both – in order to efficiently deliver sustainable, economic and secure electricity supplies.”
More information at the Norwegian page