The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Notice of Public Comment in the Federal Register, inviting the public to comment on DOE’s draft Voluntary Code of Conduct which addresses data privacy surrounding smart grid technologies. Comments must be received on or before October 14, 2014.

In January 2012, DOE OE hosted the Smart Grid Privacy Workshop to facilitate a dialogue among key industry stakeholders. In addition, in February 2012, the White House released the report, Consumer Data Privacy in a Networked World: A Framework for Protecting Privacy and Promoting Innovation in the Global Digital Economy. The Privacy Blueprint outlines a multi-stakeholder process for developing legally enforceable voluntary codes of conduct (VCC) to help instill consumer confidence.

In response to workshop findings and in support of the Privacy Blueprint, DOE OE and the Federal Smart Grid Task Force have facilitated a multi-stakeholder process to develop a VCC for utilities and third parties providing consumer energy use services that will addresses privacy related to data enabled by smart grid technologies. Industry stakeholders attended open meetings and participated in work group activities to draft the VCC principles.

The draft VCC now available for public comment is a result of those meetings and work groups over the past 18 months. The primary goal of the VCC document is to provide principles of conduct for voluntary adoption by utilities and third parties.

The Federal Register Notice includes information on how the public may submit comments.