FAQs Archive - Page 2 of 6 - Smart Energy Research Lab

Q: Will my data ever be sold or used for commercial purposes? (SENS)

No, the data accessed by UCL and the Ipsos MORI team will never be sold to third parties and will only be used for the purposes described here.

Q: Are there any possible disadvantages of taking part? (SENS)

We do not anticipate any disadvantages to you from UCL and the Ipsos MORI team accessing your smart meter data for the purposes of evaluating the trial.

Q: How do I give feedback on the product? (SENS)

We would be grateful if you grant your permission to share your contact details (name, address, email and telephone) with Ipsos MORI. This is so that they can invite you to provide feedback on how your homes uses energy and on the product or service (if you are one of the households that receives it). Over the next year, you may be invited to take part in a short telephone survey or an interview. By giving your permission to share your contact details now, you will still be under no obligation to take part at a later date. We can assure you that your details will be securely shared with, and held by, Ipsos MORI and only used for the purposes of this research.

Q: What other energy data will you be accessing apart from smart meter data? (SENS)

To understand how the energy use of households trialling the products and services changes, Ipsos MORI would like to look at how much energy you used before the trial, including before you had a smart meter installed. You will need to confirm in the Consent Form you received whether you give your permission for Ipsos MORI to access your past energy use information through your energy supplier. This information will be shared securely with the Ipsos MORI team and only used for the purposes of conducting this research.

Q: What data will be accessed from my smart meter? (SENS)

With your consent, UCL will collect, and share with the Ipsos MORI team, the following data from your gas and/or electricity smart meter(s): Half-hourly energy use readings from today to the end of the trial period, unless you withdraw your consent earlier If you have had your smart meter for a while: half-hourly energy use readings for up to the last 12 months (or fewer if you have not had a smart meter for this long) Information about your energy tariff (how your supplier charges you for each unit of energy you use) Whether or not you have any devices like an in-home display connected to your smart meter(s)

Q: The Smart Energy Code and how UCL collects your smart meter data (SENS)

UCL are an accredited party to the Smart Energy Code (SEC), the UK legislation that ensures safe and secure access to smart meter data. To access your smart meter data, UCL uses a technical service provided by the software company CGI. CGI are an accredited SEC Party and authorised User of the Data Communications Company that connects to the national smart meter communication network (the DCC Gateway). With your consent, UCL will be able to remotely collect your smart meter data and securely transfer it to the UK Data Archive, which securely store and manage all smart meter data on behalf of UCL.

Q: What are the possible benefits of taking part? (SENS)

By agreeing to take part you will help the trial products and services be independently evaluated. This will provide confidence and credibility to society, the UK Government and industry about which products or services are most effective at reducing household energy use. It could also help individual households to better monitor and potentially reduce their energy usage, saving them money on bills and benefiting the environment.

Q: Do I have to take part? (SENS)

Taking part in this trial is entirely voluntary – we hope lots of people do sign up as it will help us to understand whether the products and services being trialled are able to support UK homes to use less energy. Even if you sign-up now, you can withdraw your consent at any time without giving a reason – please see FAQ on withdrawing from the project for how to do this.

Q: What will happen if I take part? (SENS)

If you provide your consent, the project lead organisation will share your name, address and information about your smart meter(s) with UCL. With your consent, UCL will use this information to remotely collect data on your energy use from your smart meter (see further FAQs for how UCL does this). UCL will not need to visit your address and your energy bills will not be affected by this in any way. UCL will continue to collect your smart meter data for the duration of the trial, or until you withdraw from the trial (see FAQ on withdrawing from the project) or you move home. UCL will link your smart meter data with data from the Energy Performance Certificate for your property, if available. Energy Performance Certificate data can provide valuable information about your building and heating system to help better understand your energy use data. UCL will provide secure access to your smart meter and Energy Performance Certificate data only to the Ipsos MORI team and only for the purposes of this specific project.

Q: Why is this trial being conducted? (SENS)

It is important that some products and services are independently evaluated. The UK Government has appointed the research company Ipsos MORI and its approved partners to do this. Evidence from this evaluation will help to inform the development of future policy to support household energy efficiency. Part of the evaluation is to check if the products and services being trialled help you to use less energy (there are six separate projects and each participant will only normally be involved in one). To do this, Ipsos MORI needs to access data on how much energy your household uses. This data is held in your smart meter. If you choose to participate in the trial, Ipsos MORI will access the energy data stored on your smart meter using a service provided by University College London (UCL). Your smart meter data will be used by Ipsos MORI, its approved partners and UCL solely for the purposes of this research study.