Today’s electrical grid is considered one of the greatest engineering accomplishments of all time. It was recognized in 2003 by the National Academy of Engineering as the preeminent engineering achievement of the twentieth century. The grid and its importance to our economy, our national security, and to the lives of the hundreds of millions it serves, remains a critical national engine, but we have taken this marvelous machine for granted for far too long. Because electricity and electronic devices now permeate every facet of our lives, the demands placed upon the grid are growing exponentially. The utility industry is facing a number of challenges that are bringing about the need to make major changes to the grid. This book discusses these challenges. The book also includes topics on the techno-economic merits of DC microgrid deployment; machine-learning aided optimal customer decisions in interactive smart grids; a game-theory attack and defense model for smart grids; and high-availability seamless redundance (HSR) protocol for smart grid communications.