National Geographic reports on the challenges facing smart grid proponents as consumers voice concerns about privacy, including how smart meter data will be used and who might have access to it. The U.S. has deployed smart meters to about one-fourth of customers nationwide, while the EU is working to meet a mandate that 80 percent of households use smart meters by 2020. The UK government has published a set of rules for its smart meter program in which “the consumer comes first.” In the U.S., federal laws regulating use of consumers’ energy data don’t yet exist, though some U.S. states are formulating rules. Editor’s Note: For more on this topic, see “Amidst Fledgling Smart Grid Safeguards, Utilities Self-Regulate and an Expert Offers A How-To” from the September edition of The Privacy Advisor.
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