Ohio Declines to Provide Retail Suppliers with De-Identified Customer Energy Usage Data

In updating rules related to metering (largely relating to a smart meter opt-out, click here for related story), the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio declined a request from a retail supplier for the provision of de-identified customer energy usage data from advanced meters to retail suppliers.

Direct Energy had proposed that the Commission adopt a rule providing that, upon written request from a CRES provider, an electric utility that has installed and certified advanced meters shall disclose de-identified energy usage data, to the CRES provider via an electronic data interface (EDI) file, web portal, or other mutually-agreed upon format. Such de-identified energy usage data was proposed to include 15-minute interval data provided to the CRES provider on a daily basis.

Such information, which does not identify specific customers, "is useful to CRES providers in understanding customers’ usage patterns on an interval (hourly or 15-minute) basis and thus is essential to new product development and pricing," Direct Energy had said.

Direct Energy had also proposed that upon a customer’s enrollment with a CRES provider for a time differentiated pricing product, an electric utility shall disclose a customer’s energy usage data to the customer’s CRES provider via an electronic data interface (EDI) file, web portal, or other mutually-agreed upon format. Such energy usage data was proposed to include 15-minute interval data provided to the CRES provider in real-time.

PUCO declined to grant both proposals at this time, citing investigation of the issues in other proceedings.

"The Commission recognizes the need for further dialogue and development of appropriate procedures and standards for disclosure of customer energy usage data and de-identified customer energy usage data. Already, the Commission has opened two dockets to obtain information on the issue. First, the Commission opened Case No. 11-277-GE-UNC, which received significant comments and reply comments from stakeholders. On May 9, 2012, the Commission issued its Finding and Order in that case directing Commission Staff to form a proposal recommending the appropriate next steps for review of consumer privacy protection and customer data access issues. More recently, the Commission opened Case No. 12-3151-EL-COI initiating an investigation into the health, strength, and vitality of Ohio's retail electric service market and actions that the Commission may take to enhance the health, strength, and vitality of the market. The Commission then adopted a procedural schedule with multiple stakeholder collaboration workshops and directing Staff to develop a short term market development plan. The Commission finds that procedures and standards for appropriate handling and disclosure of customer energy usage data and de-identified customer energy usage data is directly related to the health, strength, and vitality of Ohio's retail electric service market. Further, the Commission notes that Rule 4901:1-10-05, O.A.C, does not contain provisions specific to handling and disclosure of customer energy usage data. As the Commission continues to review the rules in Chapter 4901:1-10, O.A.C, it will continue to evaluate the proposals for proper handling and disclosure of customer energy usage data. Accordingly, at this time, Direct Energy's proposed rules regarding disclosure of customer energy usage data and de-identified customer energy usage data should be denied," PUCO said.