Jacqueline Klosek, Privacy Related Regulations and Public Concerns about Smart Metering Technologies in the US, Canada and Australia

Jacqueline Klosek, Privacy Related Regulations and Public Concerns about Smart Metering Technologies in the US, Canada and Australia

PLSC 2012

Workshop draft abstract:

Smart metering technologies have tremendous promise to contribute to environmental protection by reducing wasteful and/or unnecessary consumption of our limited energy resources.  At the same time, however, many smart metering proposals pose serious risks to individual privacy rights by making available individually identifiable energy consumption data utilities and even to other third parties. Concerns about the privacy risks of smart metering are having an impact on the development and implementation of these technologies. Furthermore, various jurisdictions within the United States and around the world are responding to the privacy concerns about smart metering technology by proposing and, in some cases, enacting legislation to regulate the use of smart metering.  This paper will examine the primary privacy concerns raised by the use of smart metering technology, focusing upon public attitudes in the United States, Canada and Australia.  It will also explore enacted and proposed regulations in the United States, Canada and Australia. Finally, it will suggest alternative means of moving ahead with smart metering while protecting privacy.