National Grid to install Smart Meters to Customers

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National Grid (or National Grid USA Service Company, Inc.), a utilities company that operates in Massachusetts and New York, has announced a rollout of smart electrical meters for all residential customers. These smart meters, manufactured by Sense, can identify individual electrical devices and track their usage. This feature was not disclosed to customers in the announcement email or on the National Grid website.

Background

The Sense smart meters allow National Grid to remotely track electrical usage of the customer. This is a reasonable and cost effective approach to billing the customer. However, the smart meter's software is able to identify what electrical devices are being used, such as microwaves, ovens, dryers, refrigerators, and so on. From the information available, Sense is not able to identify specific make and models, however users can add this information via Sense's website.^{[citation needed]}

Will National Grid share this data with manufactures or others

National Grid to install smart meters

National Grid has sent an email stating that they will be installing smart meters at all residences. Nowhere in this email or on their announcement pages did they disclose that these new smart meters can track the individual electrical device usage in the home.

Customers may opt out at an additional one-time charge of $33 and a monthly charge of $26.

(https://sense.com/nationalgrid/)

These meters are made by or using tech created by Sense. Sense describes their smart meters as such:

Sense embeds its software in next-generation smart meters, unlocking real-time insight into the home and grid. With Sense, utilities can engage and empower people, lower operating costs, and improve decision making.

I don't see where in National Grid privacy policy that the data about electrical devices in a home is or isn't shared with other parties. There is no reason that National Grid should share this information.

Sense does seem to restrict what is shared.

Sense Statement on Privacy

You’re placing your trust in us, when you invite us into your homes. We don’t take this lightly. We’re committed to protecting your privacy and safety by granting you full control over the information you choose to share, while relentlessly striving to ensure your data is secure. This involves several precautions:

• All communications between the Sense-enabled electric meter, the Sense cloud servers, and Sense Home app are encrypted. We use AES 128-bit encryption and TLS/SSL (HTTPS)
• Sense stores all data in cloud servers using Amazon Web Services (AWS). Your home’s device data is collected and processed by automated systems that power the Sense Home app, send notifications, and generate email reports. Access to these production systems is limited to a very small group of Sense engineering team members
• Personally identifiable information (PII), like email address and account information, is stored in systems that are physically separate from application data. Sense Support employees will, on occasion, need to access some of your data to troubleshoot an issue, but we will always ask you for permission before we do
• Sense never shares any of the accumulated data with 3rd parties unless a user explicitly opts-in. You could be offered such a choice on a case-by-case basis, such as a utility wanting to provide discounts/services to its customers in exchange for sharing limited power data

Implication

The software is able to identify type of electrical devices, Microwaves, ovens, dryers, refrigerators and so on.  From the information available Sense is not able to identify specific make and models, however users can add this information via Senses' web site that shows the user what they have.

To me it looks like Sense will not share this information to third parties but will share to National Grid.  Will National Grid have access to the specific device information? Will the share it with manufacturers? Sending the efficiency of a device may be helpful, sending user information is not acceptable.

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