Interactive interface within a monitoring and control device

An utility monitoring device in communication with a remote system, comprising:

• an interactive display that includes a microphone, an input panel having at least one input device for receiving an input from a user of the utility monitoring device, a speaker, and a video display for displaying data indicative of at least one characteristic monitored by the utility monitoring device;
• a controller programmed to convert sound signals received by the microphone to audio data, the controller converting the audio data according to a communications protocol to produce voice data;
• an Internet (IP) protocol controller coupled to the controller, the IP controller being programmed to communicate the voice data representative of the audio data via a communications interface over a communications medium according to the communications protocol;
• and
• the communications interface coupled to the controller, the communications interface receiving the voice data and communicating the voice data over the communications medium to the remote system.