Calif. PUC Seeks Proposals on Access to Customer Data

An assigned commissioner's ruling from California PUC Commissioner Nancy Ryan in the PUC's review of third-party access to electricity usage data directed the state's investor-owned utilities to describe current practices for providing customers with access to usage and pricing information; the measures that each has taken to provide access to this information to customers and to third parties; and the steps that each has taken to protect the information and the privacy of individuals.

Additionally, Ryan invited proposals from all parties regarding how to provide customers with access to their usage and price data while protecting the security of the data and the privacy of customers.

Ryan noted that Decision (D.) 09-12-046 set as a policy goal providing "consumers with access to electricity price information by the end of 2010. At a pre-hearing conference, several parties noted that since residential prices vary with consumption, it is unclear what price should be communicates to customers. For example, should the utility communicate a price to a customer which forecasts the monthly level of consumption, or should the price communicated simply vary depending on the aggregate consumption to date? Ryan invited proposals on this price disclosure issue as well.

Noting that San Diego Gas & Electric is part of the Google PowerMeter trial, Ryan asked SDG&E to comment on the process, how customers obtain access to information, and what current privacy protections are in place.

The case is Rulemaking 08-12-009