Pike Research predicts that smart appliances will take some time to take off at a massive scale; however, by the end of 2019 118 million units are forecasted to be installed worldwide.
The products range from water heaters to refrigerators and are capable of adjusting the power drawn by their own electrical connectors in response to the electricity supply to the home or to the wider grid.
In essence, this could allow a refrigerator to operate at a slightly warmer temperature over the short term, rather than risk drawing power from an already overwhelmed grid.
"Appliance manufacturers have been working with utilities and other technology vendors on pilot projects," says senior analyst Bob Gohn.
Smart meters and advanced infrastructure are areas of specialty for Mr Gohn, along with home area networking and communications.
