The Citizens Utility Board (“CUB”) and the Environmental Defense Fund (“EDF”) recently filed a joint petition asking the Illinois Commerce Commission (“ICC” or “the Commission”) to initiate a proceeding to adopt the Illinois Open Data Access Framework (“Framework”). They hope the Framework will become the governing standards for access to customer usage data by customers
Privacy Issues
Privacy for Data Enabled by Smart Grid Technologies — DOE Sponsors Voluntary Code of Conduct Workshops
The U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (“DOE OE”), in coordination with the Federal Smart Grid Task Force, will convene its third meeting in the Voluntary Code of Conduct (“VCC”) process on November 22, 2013. Developed in response to the DOE OE-hosted Smart Grid Privacy Workshop and White House report…
California Enacts New Electrical and Natural Gas Data Privacy Law Aimed at HAN Vendors
Smart meters aside, customer privacy is not a new concept to utilities, including those in California. However, on October 5, 2013, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. signed into law AB-1274, now known as Title 1.81.4. Privacy of Customer Electrical or Natural Gas Usage Data. This law is not aimed at utilities, but at third parties…
Smart Grid Apps and Privacy
To optimize smart meter customer benefits, mobility will be critical. For example, to communicate with customers regarding real-time pricing then to provide them with the ability to respond by interacting with appliances and other behind-the-meter devices, there will need to be “an app for that.” Leveraging tablets and smart phone technology has an essential role in…
Energy Efficiency and Privacy
Smart meters are capable of delivering a wealth of information regarding a customer’s energy usage. This data holds the promise of current and future benefits, the most basic being that knowledge will affect change. The theory is the more customers understand the correlation between their behavior and energy spending, the more likely they will make…
Michigan PSC Staff Report Says Smart Meters Are Safe
After careful review of the available literature and studies, the Staff of the Michigan Public Service Commission believes that the health risk from the installation and operation of metering systems using radio transmitters is insignificant and the appropriate federal health and safety regulations provide assurance that smart meters represent a safe technology. The report discusses…
SDG&E Applies Privacy by Design to Smart Grid Dynamic Pricing Project
According to SDG&E, customer choice is a critical driver of its smart grid deployment plan. Many of SDG&E customers are adopting rooftop solar and PEVs at rates that are among the highest in the nation. These customers are seeking real-time information about their energy use and rates so that they can make informed decisions. With smart…
Data Privacy Day
Data privacy has been an issue long before the smart grid became a commonly used term. With so much of our lives spent online and stored in clouds, data privacy is certainly something to be concerned about. Technology is a wonderful thing, yet it creates more data that needs to be managed and protected. There…
CPUC Commissioner Simon Discusses Smart Meter Privacy
Today my friend Commissioner Tim Simon provides us with insight regarding the California Public Utility Commission’s Smart Meter Privacy Order.
Evers: Commissioner Simon, California has long been an energy policy leader. Now with the popularity of the smart grid, the CPUC is often in the national spotlight. Regulators and industry participants nationwide follow your rulings.
Texas PUC and ERCOT host briefing on Guidelines for Smart Grid Cyber Security
On February 23, 2011, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at ERCOT Austin, 7620 Metro Center Drive, Austin, TX, the NIST Smart Grid Cyber Security Working Group (“CSWG) Outreach Team will be available to answer questions regarding the lengthy NIST Interagency Report, Guidelines for Smart Grid Cyber Security 7628. This report will guide the industry …