An article in the New York Times (September 5, 2012) describes the slow adoption of software controlled wireless technologies to manage home energy usage and blames it on protocol diversity. Protocols refer to the codes used by devices to communicate, with several proprietary standards. Fears of piracy and a desire to create closed systems consisting of their own devices have discouraged standards. But those incompatible standards also prevent communications between appliances and other energy consuming devices. Should the industry force a common standard, and if so, how can it prevent hacking and malware from entering into such systems ? Should penalties for violation be increased or should management of energy be outsourced to third parties, such a home security monitoring agencies ?