When Nest Labs' $129 smoke detector -- which can talk to the Nest learning thermostat -- is touted as a cheap gift suggestion in holiday gift guides, it would suggest the connected home is becoming a reality.

It’s hardly the arrival of the Jetsons age, especially when it comes to how we manage energy use in the home. But this past year has seen some notable movement in how utilities are leveraging thermostats in the home, how companies are connecting services in new ways and changes to residential electricity pricing. 

If you’ve been sleeping all year, here’s what you need to know and what to watch for in 2014.