Walt Brewer: Utility and Consumers must Cooperate

This posted to smartgrid@ostp.gov by Walt Brewer

Q1-2: Internal home energy usage data (ie that related to devices within the homes) should belong to the homeowners, though I would expect that ESI providers would include access to that data in their licensing agreements. Individual customers or their third party customers should have real-time (or near-real-time) access to their usage data through the utility. The complexity of giving the consumers data access to the meter itself is necessary or wise as it may encourage attempted “hacking” of meters.

Q3: If the Smart Meter is the Primary Gateway I would require that the utilities/service providers give the users access to the data in real time so that they can control their efficiency of use relative to energy supply. This will place a large burden on the utilities that is not necessary.