The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) sent its list to the National Institute of Standards and Technology in early July. NIST is in the process of drafting standards for smart grids that will include in-home networks of devices linked to the grid.

"AHAM members are concerned that the rate structures being considered do not incentivize or educate consumers," the group said in a prepared statement. "Thus, consumers may not be inclined to utilize smart products and a large part of the demand response opportunity will be lost," it added.

The group listed other concerns including a desire to adopt open standards but also leave room for vendors to come up with their own protocols and commands for in-home smart grid networks. The group also wants leeway for smart appliances to evolve from one-way to two-way communications and to use in-home controllers as intermediaries between the grid and appliances.

Smart appliances also should be able to control their response to any messages from the grid. In addition, they should provide an option for users to override any automated actions, the group said.

AHAM is one of many organizations voicing concerns to NIST. Cisco Systems recently sent NIST a letter lobbying for use of Internet Protocol in smart grid standards.

AHAM is a broad group of companies that make so-called white goods such as refrigerators, microwaves and air conditioners and their component vendors.