Advances with Smart Grid technology will likely cause a surge in information about personal energy consumption. And while such data can help the public better understand their energy use, it could also reveal personal details or proprietary business information, according to a report issued by the Energy Department on Oct. 5.

As a result, the pace of smart grid deployment should not out pace consumer education, the report warns.

"[The] long-term success of Smart Grid technologies depends upon understanding and respecting consumers' reasonable expectations of privacy, security and control over who has access to potentially revealing energy-usage data," it states.

Sates should carefully assess the conditions under which third-party access to energy-use data is given--most likely with consumers opting-in if the reason for data use is specified, the terms of use are clear and the terms of access termination are determined, the the report adds. The Energy Department also recommends that third parties be required to protect the privacy and security of consumer data.

The department, however, did not reach a conclusion on whether or not utilities could charge a fee for providing third-party access or what state certification requirements for information access should be considered.

For more:
- download the DOE report (.pdf)

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