Smart grid technology is currently entering the electrical market by the deployment of smart meters. Electric vehicles introduce new challenges on the grid capacity but also may support grid stability. Volatile renewable energy challenges grid stability. Wind power electricity produced at shore regions has to be transported to industrial regions by high-capacity power links. Local photovoltaic sources may make residents independent for some time periods. The new power grid becomes smart, when all prosumers can communicate fast, with low latency, secure, and reliable. The 8th IEEE International Conference on Smart Grid Communications (SmartGridComm 2017) will provide a forum to discuss all aspects that are relevant to smart grid communication and information technologies. It will bring together researchers and practitioners from academia, industry, and government institutions, with backgrounds in communications, energy, control, signal processing and information systems to exchange ideas, explore enabling technologies and share experiences.