DE 19-197 Electric & Natural Gas Utilities

Concord, NH – In this order, the Commission approves the design and framework proposed by the parties in this matter for the development and implementation of a state-wide Multi-Use Energy Data Platform. The Commission supports making utility data available while implementing strong privacy and security standards to protect the data of utilities and their customers. Impaired access to customer usage data is a potential barrier to competitive market entry. The Commission will continue to work with the utilities and their customers until this data platform is readily available.

The data platform is designed to enable customers, as well as third-party energy providers, to access energy consumption data from all regulated electric and natural gas utilities through one secure portal using protocols identified by the parties to this proceeding, the “Green Button Connect” protocols. Customers must opt-in to have their data accessed through the portal and customer data will be protected from unauthorized users.

Before moving forward with requests for proposals to develop the data platform, the Commission requires additional detail on software design, customer preferences, and available technology. The Commission also requires that the stakeholders initiate the development of a cost-benefit methodology before moving forward with requests for proposals. The development of the cost-benefit methodology will inform required cost- benefit analysis after the result of the requests for proposals is finalized. Such a cost- benefit analysis should inform not only whether the development of the state-wide data platform is reasonable and in the public interest, but should also enable a study to provide a prospective look at the rate-design that ensures costs are appropriately recovered from the beneficiaries of the state-wide data platform.