The transformation of today’s electricity grids into smart grids has been widely hailed as a key for sustainable growth of wealth around the globe. The trend to smarter grids comes at a time in which information and communication technologies have revolutionized personal communications and turned wireless communications into a commodity. It is thus no coincidence that communications technology is ready to and will play an essential role in the implementation of smart grids. However, it is by no means obvious which communication technologies will be integrated into electricity grids and in what way. Communication systems need to be seen as part of a larger system of systems, including in particular energy, control, and information processing systems. This overlap of disciplines is part of the specific challenge and appeal of smart grid communications research and development. The 4th IEEE International Conference on Smart Grid Communications (SmartGridComm 2013) will provide a forum to discuss all aspects that are relevant to smart grid communication technologies and bring together researchers and practitioners from academia, industry, and government institutions, with backgrounds in communication, energy, control, and information systems to exchange ideas, explore enabling technologies, discuss innovative designs, and share field trial experiences and lessons learned.