$500

Cost of equipment and materials that an attacker would need to hack into a smart grid and disrupt electrical service for millions of homes and businesses, according to IOActive, a firm that specializes in computer-security services. The smart grid has been widely embraced by the Obama administration,and the U.S. Department of Energy is set to invest billions of dollars the technology.

Besides helping consumers use electricity more efficiently, the smart grid is supposed to be more secure against cyber-attacks. "Before we go rushing headstrong into a smart-grid concept, we have to make sure that we take care of business, in this case cybersecurity," Gerry Brown, chairman of New York's Public Service Commission, told CNN.com.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is in the process of establishing standards related to privacy, reliability, data sharing, and other security-minded issues. But there's no time line for adoption, nor is there any indication that the development of the smart grid will stop while the standards meant to keep it safe are written.

Essential information: Learn about smart meters and watt meters.