As we tour Duke Energy’s Envision Center in North Carolina – we are reminded how a carefully thought out smart grid strategy can yield significant benefits from connecting multiple, disparate and legacy communications networks. According to a 2011 MetaVu Staff Audit and Assessment commissioned by the Staff of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio – thirty operating benefits were identified from Duke’s deployment, which were grouped into the following four key categories; avoided operations and maintenance costs, avoided fuel costs, deferred capital expenditures, and increased revenue.