Abstract  The Smart Grid Concept presents the ideology, basic technologies and mechanisms for implementing an intelligent power system of a new generation including development of normative-legislative basis and standardization. The world experience in development of intelligent networks and the newest information technologies are generalized and adapted to Russian conditions. The principles and places of allocation of breakthrough equipment and areas for application of the newest technologies for controlling processes in the Unified Power System (UPS) and Unified National Electrical Network (UNEN) and pilot projects are shown, the generalized cost estimates are given. The Concept forms the basis of an innovative development of the UNEN and covers hierarchy of the problems of controlling the operating conditions of functioning of the UPS, of transmission and distribution networks, substations, circuits for power supply of large megalopolises with population of one million and more Special attention is given to the interface with a consumer and in this connection the approaches are considered in consumer structuring, distributed generation, controlling quality and security of power supply to consumers, controlling demand and construction of intelligent microgrids. A generalized estimation of efficiency of technologies applied is given and also mechanisms of the Concept implementation are presented. The Concept is elaborated in 2011 to an order of the Federal Grid Company (FGC of UPS) with a leading role of the Research and Development Center for Power Engineering involving a series of branch and academy (RAS – Russian Academy of Science) Institutes including “Energosetproyekt” Institute, Unified Institute of High Temperatures (UIHT of RAS), Energy Systems Institute (ESI of RAS), Energy Research Institute (ERI of RAS), Institute of Control Science (ICS of RAS), Institute of Energy Strategy (IES), Higher School of Economics (HSE), Moscow Power Institute (Technical University) (MPI(TU)).