Sony Corporation said on Monday it will participate in a demonstration test of a 'smart grid' next-generation power delivery system in the United States by providing technology to measure electricity demand in households efficiently.

This will be the first time the major Japanese consumer electronics company provides such a system in a demonstration test, a Sony spokesman said, adding that it aims to commercialize the technology in the future.

In the 'Pecan Street Smart Grid Demonstration Project,' to be held in Austin, Texas, Sony will offer a device which can measure electricity consumption just by placing it on the power distribution board without installing separate devices on each piece of equipment to monitor energy usage, the company said.

In the experiment, Sony plans to deploy an internet-connection set-top box in households, allowing them to see their energy management on the portal site from televisions.

To get households to actively participate in the project, Sony is considering providing other services such as distribution of games and other free content, Sony said.

The project, led by a research group consisting of the University of Texas and private companies, will start from March next year at up to 500 households.

Intel Corp of the United States and Swiss electrical meter company Landis+Gyr AG are among other firms participating in the experiment.