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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 177 (Friday, September 12, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 54695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21838]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Data Privacy and the Smart Grid: A Voluntary Code of Conduct

AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, 
Department of Energy.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a 
draft Voluntary Code of Conduct that addresses data privacy surrounding 
smart grid technologies. The document is available for a 30 day comment 
period at https://www.smartgrid.gov/sites/default/files/
VCCprinciples20140812final
draft.pdf.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 14, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted to Eric Lightner, 
Director, Federal Smart Grid Task Force, Office of Electricity Delivery 
and Energy Reliability, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585; Email: VCC-Privacy@hq.doe.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Eric Lightner, Director, Federal Smart Grid Task 
Force, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, U. S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585 at VCC-Privacy@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 31, 2012, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (DOE OE) 
hosted the Smart Grid Privacy Workshop to facilitate a dialog among key 
industry stakeholders. In addition, on February 23, 2012, the White 
House released the report, Consumer Data Privacy in a Networked World: 
A Framework for Protecting Privacy and Promoting Innovation in the 
Global Digital Economy (Privacy Blueprint). The Privacy Blueprint 
outlines a multi-stakeholder process for developing legally enforceable 
voluntary codes of conduct to help instill consumer confidence.
    In response to workshop findings and in support of the Privacy 
Blueprint, DOE OE and the Federal Smart Grid Task Force have 
facilitated a multi-stakeholder process to develop a Voluntary Code of 
Conduct (VCC) for utilities and third parties providing consumer energy 
use services. The resulting draft VCC addresses privacy issues as they 
relate to data enabled by smart grid technologies.
    The DOE, through a notice published in Federal Register on February 
11, 2013 (78 FR 9678), requested energy industry stakeholders to 
participate in the VCC multi-stakeholder process by attending open 
meetings and participating in work group activities to draft the VCC 
principles. The draft VCC, which is now available for public comment, 
is a result of those meetings and work groups over the past 18 months. 
The primary goal of the VCC is to provide principles of conduct for 
voluntary adoption by energy utilities and third parties.

    Authority:  Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Title 
XIII.

    Issued at Washington, DC, on September 8, 2014.
Patricia A. Hoffman,
Assistant Secretary, Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. 2014-21838 Filed 9-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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