We recently responded to the government’s consultation on a Smart Data Repository. We strongly support its creation and consider it a potentially transformational part of the future energy system.

The repository would store household energy use data. Third-party organisations could access aggregated data, while access to an individual household’s data would require the bill payer’s consent. We support this approach.

In short, we want consumer representation in the repository’s governance, objectives that put consumer benefit first, ongoing monitoring of consumer outcomes, and tariff comparisons based on people’s historic energy use.

We called for this in 2017

This is something we have argued for over a long time. In 2017, CSE and Sustainability First set up the Smart Energy Data Public Interest Advisory Group (PIAG). It concluded that existing energy datasets are fragmented and not granular enough for many public policy purposes. It recommended enabling access to anonymised and aggregated smart meter data through a secure, trusted framework, so that public bodies, regulators and accredited researchers can use it for legitimate public interest purposes.

The potential benefits

The benefits are significant. With access to a customer’s historic energy use, comparison websites could provide more tailored advice, helping people find tariffs and flexibility services that better suit their needs.

They could go much further. Half-hourly electricity data could support new time-of-use tariffs, which offer different prices at different times of day, as well as services that reward people for shifting their electricity use. The repository could also help energy networks plan for future demand and provide a valuable resource for research and policy development.

Who might miss out

These benefits are not guaranteed to be shared equally. The repository will hold highly sensitive information about how households and businesses use energy. It is not fully clear how the data will be used, who will benefit and how potential harms will be identified. Low-income, vulnerable and digitally excluded households risk missing out if new services are not designed with their needs in mind.

We are also concerned that the proposed monitoring arrangements focus on operational compliance and controlling access to data, rather than outcomes for consumers. Governance appears to be led by the energy industry, without representation from consumer groups.

What we are calling for

In our consultation response, we call for:

• Consumer and civil society representation in the repository’s governance.
• Clear objectives that put consumer benefit and the public interest at the heart of its operation.
• Ongoing monitoring of consumer outcomes, including unintended harms and the distribution of benefits.
• A requirement for energy suppliers to offer customers tariff comparisons based on their historic energy use through the repository.

Measuring success by consumer outcomes

The repository could become a valuable national resource, supporting a smarter, greener and fairer energy system. But success should not be measured simply by how well it operates or how much data it makes available. It should be measured by whether it helps consumers make informed choices, protects their interests and ensures that the benefits of a changing energy system are shared fairly.