From NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT

By Paul Homewood

h/t Philip Bratby

Consumers could get greater control over their energy usage and save money on their bills under plans for an energy smart data scheme.

Smart data is the process of securely sharing customers’ data, such as information on their energy consumption, with businesses known as authorised third parties (ATPs). These third-party providers then use the data, which is only shared at the customer’s request, to provide customers with bespoke products and services which can be tailored to consumers’ needs.

Smart data has the potential to give customers more control over their own data which will help them better understand their energy usage as well as access more personalised services that help them save money. For example, new services could help customers compare prices, change suppliers and switch to low-carbon tariffs.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/potential-new-smart-data-scheme-to-drive-innovation-and-support-consumers-in-the-energy-market

It all sounds very innocent, but as the Telegraph warns:

A privacy row has broken out over government proposals to allow energy companies to harvest household smart meter data as part of a net zero push.

Ministers are consulting on plans to allow household energy usage to be shared with third parties who could steer them to cheaper deals, as well as lower carbon tariffs from rival suppliers.

But campaigners warned the proposal amounted to “intrusion”, and that bill payers should be “very wary” about agreeing to have their data shared.

Neil Record, a former Bank of England economist who is now chairman of Net Zero Watch, told The Telegraph: “Energy companies get a tremendous amount of data from you, and the public should be very wary of increasingly having their household information provided to external agents.”

He added the proposals “represent an intrusion which once authorised, will provide information about your household, and the public do not realise how extensive that will be”.

Although it will be voluntary at first, how long will it be before it is compulsory?

One more reason not to have a smart meter.