In spite of the weakened economic conditions in countries around the world, electric power utilities are proceeding with investments in both their infrastructure and "smart grid" automation programs according to a study released by the Newton-Evans Research Co. Newton-Evans found that a majority of the 110+ officials from 38 countries participating in the just-completed study indicated that capital spending for control systems, substation automation, smart grid related programs, distribution management, advanced metering rollouts, and infrastructure equipment for transmission and distribution grids will remain as originally projected a year ago.