Information Paper on the Smart Meter Data Access Code

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has today, 28 August 2024, published a proposed decision on the Smart Meter Data Access Code (SMDAC)                                                                         

Over the past several years, the National Smart Metering Programme (“NSMP”) has facilitated the nation-wide installation of more than 1.8 million smart meters. The new technology installed in smart meters allows for information on customers usage of electricity to be sent electronically from the smart meter to their respective electricity supplier and their actual electricity consumption is used to calculate their bill. This information – referred to as ‘smart meter data’–  leads to more accurate billing by suppliers as well as helping suppliers to create new smart services and products, such as Time-of-Use tariffs and Smart Pay-As-You-Go tariffs. Customers will then have more options to choose the most suitable tariff product that matches their energy needs.                                         The development and introduction of a Smart Meter Data Access Code (SMDAC) will set out how parties can access the data collected by the smart meter and the rules around that access. The proposed rules for the SMDAC are set out in this paper. Suppliers and others must comply with the rules set out in the SMDAC and their obligations under data protection regulation before they can access smart meter data. They will then be able to use the data to deliver smart services and tariffs to customers and support the operation of the electricity network. This helps Ireland to meet our climate action targets.                                        

This proposed decision sets out the intended approach to govern the collection, retention, and utilisation of the smart meter data. The introduction of the SMDAC is intended to  ensure that smart meter data is handled in an appropriate way, in accordance with all relevant data protection legislation. This version of the SMDAC should be understood as wholly different from the proposed decision published in July 2023. It seeks to inform stakeholders of CRU’s new minded to approach and discusses the updated draft SMDAC document. The publication of this proposed decision and the draft SMDAC is the first step in a larger process which will involve the drafting of supporting documentation to facilitate the implementation of the SMDAC.   Responses to this proposed decision should be sent, preferably by email, to smartmetering@cru.ie.