The appliances depend on new home electric meters, in development by some local utilities, that contain a cellphone chip or other long-distance transceiver to download citywide energy-use information. The meters route this info to home refrigerators, washers and microwaves outfitted with shorter-range transceivers, such as low-power radio chips. The appliances can then run at full blast during the cheapest periods and ramp down, or even turn off, during expensive periods; customers can override the settings if they really need to nuke dinner. GE is now conducting trials with Louisville Gas and Electric. Look for Demand Response appliances, as well as widespread time-of-use pricing, in 2011 or 2012. —Sarah Parsons