Smart Grid Privacy via Anonymization of Smart Metering Data

The security and privacy of future smart grid and smart metering networks is important to their rollout and eventual acceptance by the public: research in this area is ongoing and smart meter users will need to be reassured that their data is secure. This paper describes a method for securely anonymizing frequent (for example, every few minutes) electrical metering data sent by a smart meter. Although such frequent metering data may be required by a utility or electrical energy distribution network for operational reasons, this data may not necessarily need to be attributable to a specific smart meter or consumer. It does, however, need to be securely attributable to a specific location (e.g. a group of houses or apartments) within the electricity distribution network. The method described in this paper provides a 3rd party escrow mechanism for authenticated anonymous meter readings which are difficult to associate with a particular smart meter or customer. This method does not preclude the provision of attributable metering data that is required for other purposes such as billing, account management or marketing research purposes.

I. Introduction

Historically, the electrical grid of each country has been a ‘broadcast’ grid, where a few central power generators (i.e. power stations) produce electricity to cover demand in a country or region, and distribute this electricity to the end users via a large network of cables and transformers. While this model has served well for the last century or so, there is a growing need to reform the world's electrical grids, both from an aging infrastructure point of view and to address new environmental and societal challenges. In response to this need, national governments and relevant stakeholders are making significant efforts in the development of future electrical grids or “Smart Grids” see examples in [1] and [2]. Development of this new grid will require significant efforts in technology development, standards, policy and regulatory activities because of its inherent complexity. Smart Metering[3] is a key component of the future vision of smart grids.