SMART Grid Communications Nodes- are the “brains” of the smart grid system

How does it(smart grid) work?

It starts by installing communication nodes alongside our transformers. These
devices may not look high-tech, but they are the “brains” of the smart grid system.
They create a virtual energy network – collecting data from the smart meters and
other digital equipment on the power lines, and sending it over a wireless network
back to Duke Energy and then back to the customer. We will install about 10,000
communication nodes in Ohio in 2010.