Cisco Innovates...

Cisco has introduced Home energy systems that monitors usage of electricity and enables you to minimize wastage. It is a touch screen device with energy management software that enables you to maintain your electricity usage. This device is initially working with Duke Energy while Cisco has plans to provide it to other energy utilities too.
For all the home based devices this controller will be behaving as a hub and display their energy usage wirelessly. The devices can be connected using a two way switch while with the controller the devices will communicate via Zigbee protocol. In this manner you can connect several devices with the controller and make use of electricity efficiently.
Cisco plans to add more protocols apart from Zigbee. Cisco has ventured into the energy sector with companies like Duke Energy, Enmax, and Yellow Storm. It has also invested into a smart grid setup using wimax by Gridnet.

Both Google and Microsoft also provide web interfaces for your energy usage name Powermeter and Hohm application respectively. Cisco has first time introduced a handheld device for this purpose. Cisco is also involved in smart grid projects with IBM to develop an efficient electrical distribution system.
This is definitely a breakthrough in the energy sector by Cisco. However this concept should also be introduced in the developing countries to help them utilize electricity in the best way.