Chapter 4 - Transmission of data relating to chargepoints - Call for evidence Context Under Section 14 of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act, the Government has powers to introduce regulations to require that prescribed information relating to a chargepoint be transmitted to specific parties. As part of the smart charging consultation, Government issued a call for evidence on the potential benefits, disadvantages, and practicalities of introducing regulations to require that operators of private chargepoints share information with network operators.
The call for evidence noted that these powers could be used to ensure that relevant parties, including the Electricity System Operator, Transmission Owners or Distribution Network Operators, are able to access useful information with regards to chargepoint installations and the impact of chargepoints on the network. We suggested that chargepoint data could help network operators to prepare and ensure that their networks will be capable of coping with the additional demand that EVs are expected to bring. With additional data, network operators could more strategically target any necessary reinforcement of their networks, ultimately offering savings for the taxpayer.
Call for evidence responses Many respondents agreed that network planning and reinforcement by network operators – particularly DNOs – could benefit from regulations under Section 14 of the AEV Act. However, several respondents cited potential data privacy risks and suggested that any data should be appropriately aggregated and anonymised. Some respondents were concerned about the detriment to chargepoint operators, noting that a requirement to share data with other parties could cause competition concerns and/or pose undue administrative burdens - for example, in setting up and maintaining data sharing arrangements.
Many respondents cautioned against mandating the sharing of live consumption data from private chargepoints, as this would pose an administrative burden, as well as having particularly significant implications for data privacy. Next steps There are significant benefits to be derived from the opening up and sharing of energy data. With our future energy system likely to be highly decentralised and 28