Spatial Law and the Smart Grid

According to its supporters -and there are many - the smart grid has the potential to address both energy conservation and climate change However, as discussed in this article, it requires companies to collect and make available to consumers a vast amount of information on their energy use, particularly within their homes. A number of organizations, such as the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), have expressed concerns over consumer privacy, as companies will have detailed information about their customers and their daily lives within their homes.

Utilities have a long history with collecting and using spatial data for such activities as asset tracking and inventory. However, as the smart grid moves forward, the legal and policy issues they will face with respect to spatial data is likely to be much more challenging and complex.