PowerMeter

EMeter, which makes software that monitors energy use, is the latest smart-grid tech startup to garner significant investment -- $12.5 million worth. With old electricity grids being replaced with smart ones, investors -- and tech giants like Google and Cisco -- are surging into the sector.

Just in time for the Copenhagen climate summit, Google (GOOG) is pushing the new PowerMeter software developed by the company's foundation, Google.org. The search company describes the tool by saying "Google PowerMeter is a free electricity usage monitoring tool that provides you with information...