Ohio Commission Directs Staff to Propose Next Steps on Customer Data Access, Privacy

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has directed Staff to form a proposal recommending the appropriate next steps for the Commission's review of consumer privacy protection and customer data access issues, and to file its proposal in a new docket.

PUCO further directed Staff to form a separate proposal regarding the Commission's initial review of cyber security issues.

PUCO's direction results from stakeholder comments in Docket 11-277-GE-UNC. Citing the breadth of comments, PUCO said it is, "evident that what would be most beneficial to our progress on these issues would be to follow a course in which interested stakeholders will have the opportunity to openly and fully participate in developing the process and issues."

"We believe this type of progression is essential for addressing the privacy and data access issues already identified in 11-277, as well as any cyber security issues to be identified in the future. To that end, as recommended by various commenters, we believe it would be most constructive if we take a step back from the formal case procedure and our Staff moves forward to develop the appropriate next steps. Such steps may include the convening of technical working groups to explore the issues that need to be addressed pertaining to smart grid related privacy or data access issues, as well as surveys and discussions with other state and federal entities. Additionally, we find that Staff should also determine the appropriate steps for our initial consideration of cyber security issues," PUCO said.

Rather than allow the current customer privacy/data docket (11-277-GE-UNC) and cyber security docket (11-5474-AU-UNC) to remain open and idle while Staff is in the process of developing its proposals, PUCO found it more appropriate to close the dockets at this time.