My wife is fond of quoting the old adage, "Patience is a virtue, find it if you can, seldom in a woman, never in a man." While I would argue that she has the precedence backwards, the point is accurate. There has been precious little patience these days; at least, so it would seem when it comes to smart control grid and smart metering projects.

Recent press reports are stressing the hard times that many "smart" technology companies have been facing as the roll out of smart grids projects have been slowed by procedural problems surrounding smart grid stimulus funding and worries over the possibility of mandated technical standards flowing from NIST's smart grid interoperability standards process. Folks, two things: (1) the wait is almost over; and (2) don't ignore the fact that many smart installations have continued throughout this process. To the former point, we know that stimulus contracts are being signed in increasing numbers. Order confirmations are not far behind. While the NIST process is not complete, it is fairly clear now where it is headed and which technologies will be anointed as winners. So, in the end, patience has been the virtue that is now being rewarded.

Now, what about the smart grid and smart metering technology companies that have endured so patiently over the past year? We should all be grateful that the process didn't kill them. They were utilities' strong, vibrant technology partners before we began the "great wait" and they remain so today. Press reports of dramatic drops in sales are almost exclusively the result of unavoidable delays brought on by the stimulus funding and interoperability standards process, not any reflection of the quality, excellence and innovation of their solutions. These companies were terrific before and remain so today.

Enough of being patient. It's time to find the after-burner button on smart grid implementation.