Proposal for Simplifying Smart Metering Data Access for Authorised Energy Service Providers and Other Third-Parties Upon End-Consumer Request and Consent

The smart meter data unlock new saving and earning opportunities for both individual households and energy communities. The infrastructure, complexity, and administrative procedures involved with third-party smart meter data access vary greatly between EU member states. The current data access process poses a significant barrier to energy-saving tools and platforms. The customer data request and consent is not opaque, long-lasting, and complicated to perform. In addition, the data access process most of the time is not linked to the e-citizen digital identity which represents a missed opportunity for a simple procedure of consumer content and identification. The authors of this study have selected three representative countries with varying levels of smart meter penetration and infrastructure for data storage and exchange and third-party data access to the energy Data Exchange Platforms (DEPs). The authors analysed third-party data access methods, outlined their shortcomings, and ultimately proposed the third-party data access process that is the most efficient, automatic and unbureaucratic. The implementation of the proposed approach will allow third parties, with the consent of consumers, to easily access smart meter data and effectively provide consumers with various services related to energy audit and energy saving.