Home energy management systems (HEMS) will see moderate growth through 2013, according to ABI Research. But starting in 2014, shipments of these systems are expected to accelerate rapidly until by 2016, nearly 44 million will hit world markets, when they will generate revenue of about $2 billion.

Sam Lucero, M2M connectivity practice director with the analyst firm, explains: "We see utilities as the largest channel for HEMS going to market. Utilities have been focusing their efforts on smart meter deployments. But in the next few years, HEMS will ramp up to deliver the utilities 'demand response' benefits on top of their smart meters. This trend will start to have real impact in 2014....