Call to accelerate access to smart meter data for ‘public good’ in GB

The UK’s Energy Systems Catapult and Data Communications Company (DCC) have called for greater transparency of, and accelerated access to, smart meter data.

Pointing to this data being at the heart of the energy transition and that more than half of the country’s households are now supplying this data via over 28 million smart meters, the two organisations suggest in a new report that the costs savings and carbon reductions resulting are just starting to scratch the surface of what is possible.

Greater transparency of, and easier access to the data from smart meters can unleash the transformative potential of the system, allowing existing and new organisations to innovate, engage consumers and deliver system benefits, they say.

However, enhancing such access is not a straightforward task. It will take ambition and appetite for change, greater regulatory flexibility and a departure from current industry governance structures, they state in the report, Data for Good, Smart Meter Data Access.

‘Data for good’

The report with recommendations for action follows an earlier investigation by the Energy Systems Catapult’s Energy Digitalisation Taskforce, which amongst others recommended the utilisation of smart meter data for public good, i.e. aggregated and anonymised as system data.

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The report indicates areas that need to be addressed including the smart metering regulatory framework, and in particular, the DCC Licence and Smart Energy Code must be adapted to facilitate trialling and development of new data-driven opportunities.

There is a need for a more consistent, transparent approach to the management of consumer consent, and for tackling the complex flow of data legislation to support more public interest use cases, including those involving aggregated data.

In addition, better incentives and regulatory levers are needed to ensure alignment of responsibilities across and between energy suppliers and distribution networks.

The report provides four recommendations:

1. Unlock smart meter system data to support fuel poor households

Studies have indicated the potential of smart meter data to identify and enable further support for fuel poor and vulnerable customers and support is required from Ofgem, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and industry to unlock system data for this vital purpose.

Achieving this outcome by winter this year (2023/24) is imperative.

2. Maximise access to smart meter data through existing mechanisms

Improvements are needed to the current data access regime so that organisations can onboard easier and undertake early-stage trialling and testing of new data-driven propositions prior to full integration with the smart metering system.

This should be developed through Smart Energy Code modifications over the next 12 to 18 months.

3. Establish a data institution for smart meter data

A dedicated entity should be set up to oversee the governance of, access to and use of smart meter data for public good. This will help to resolve the complex interaction between smart meter regulations and data legislation obligations.

This will require a timescale of two to three years, in parallel to the government’s Smart Energy Data Repository programme.

4. Maximise data access while minimising risk

It is essential to deploy new privacy-enhancing technologies for smart meter data to enable the broadest public interest use cases with the lowest possible risk.

The timescale of implementation should be in alignment with the development of the data institution.

In conclusion, the report calls on “all relevant organisations – the DCC, Ofgem, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, retailers, networks and central bodies, trade associations, think tanks and charities – to come together urgently so that we can turn the data access regime set out by this paper into a reality for the public good”.

Angus Flett, CEO of the DCC, reiterates the call, saying: “At the DCC we firmly believe that providing secure access to this data – appropriately and with consumer trust at the forefront – can and must be used to enable new services and help to tackle some of society’s greatest challenges.”

Guy Newey, CEO of the Energy Systems Catapult, points to smart meter data as “a vast national asset” that can help innovators identify opportunities to create new products and services to improve the efficiency of the system, cut fuel poverty and drive down emissions.

“The government, industry and Ofgem must work together to accelerate changes to the regulatory framework to create a fit for purpose, data access regime, which could help cement the UK’s position as a global leader in digital energy innovation.”