The Future of Privacy Forum and TRUSTe Launch a Smart Grid Privacy Seal Program
Leaders in Government and Industry Voice Their Support
The Future of Privacy Forum has developed a first of its kind privacy seal program for companies that use consumer energy information. The seal will be powered by TRUSTe, the leading data privacy management company with over 5,000 customers.
The seal will be available to companies offering home energy management, remote home control or security, smart thermostats and other services that seek to access consumer energy data.
To create the program, FPF and TRUSTe worked with companies including AT&T, Comcast, Ecofactor, IBM, Intel, Motorola, Neustar, Opower, Tendril, and Verizon. Utilities and utility regulators also provided input on the program. The program will include an advisory committee including Edison Electric Institute, the GridWise Alliance and consumer advocates.
“Consumers, utility regulators and utilities must all be sure that companies that seek to access consumer energy data gain consumer consent and have responsible privacy practices in place,” said FPF Director Jules Polonetsky.
“The seal program is exactly the kind of self-regulatory approach that augments the legal framework protecting privacy, especially in an area that is new and developing,” said FPF Founder and Co-chair Christopher Wolf
“As a number of new and upcoming innovations for the home rely on the collection and use of consumer energy data, a self-regulatory program powered by independent third party enforcement will ensure that participating companies commit to responsible practices,” said TRUSTe CEO Chris Babel.
“I applaud the Future of Privacy Forum’s new privacy seal program which will help to ensure that personal consumer-usage data is strongly protected. The seal is a reflection of Privacy by Design which requires that a proactive approach be taken. PbD recognizes that privacy is best assured when it is strategically interwoven into operational processes and business practices,” said Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, an international leader in privacy issues.
“Opower works in partnership with 75 US utilities to deliver personalized energy-saving insight in a manner that ensures maximal data security and privacy. We applaud FPF for its leadership in developing this seal program, which will help ensure best practices as utilities seek to enhance consumer data access,” said Arkadi Gerney, Opower’s Senior Director for Policy, Partnerships and Public Affairs.
“Our work with utility companies and their customers around the world continually points to a shared, global concern over data privacy,” said Dan Fredrickson, Associate General Counsel for Tendril. “We are very proud to have been a part of this landmark consumer privacy initiative and believe it represents a big step towards alleviating consumer concerns.”
Click here to find out more about the Smart Grid Consumer Privacy Seal.
FPF has created a model short consent form for third parties seeking to access consumer energy usage data. To view this form, please click here.
If interested in learning more about the project, please email info@futureofprivacy.org.
You can also access this page by going to smartgridprivacy.org
If you are an app developer collecting energy data, check out our materials here.
Join the Smart Grid Privacy LinkedIn Group here.
Federal and State Smart Grid Activity
- California Public Utilities Commission – Proceeding R0812009
- The Public Utilities Commission of the State of Colorado – Docket No. 10R-799E
- Public Utilities Commission of Ohio – Case Record No. 11-0277-GE-UNC
- Department of Energy – Smart Grid Portal
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission – Smart Grid
- NIST August 2010 Guidelines for Smart Grid Cyber Security: Vol. 2, Privacy and the Smart Grid
- NIST Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Project
- NIST IR Grid Privacy Impact Assessment
- NIST Smart Grid Collaboration Site