Enemalta said in a statement today that with regards to the recent issues regarding Smart Meters, it “would like to assure its customers that the protection of its customers’ personal data is always at the forefront of its operations. As a result, the necessary measures have been taken also with regards to the collection of data from smart meters to protect the privacy of the customer.”

The Corporation said that the Smart Meter system uses secure encrypted communication and data recording techniques which are both highly robust and resilient to any outside attacks. This means data cannot be accessed by third parties directly.

“Whilst it is true that Smart Meters can monitor electricity consumption at periods of the day, Enemalta’s only purposes for collecting the data are the billing of electricity and the maintenance and development of its distribution network.”

Enemalta concluded, “furthermore, it should also be pointed out that any misuse of personal data is already strictly regulated by the Data protection Act.”

Earlier today in a statement the Forum of Maltese Unions ( for.U.M.) said that it “insists that the Maltese Authorities, including EneMalta and the Data Protection Office put Maltese minds at rest in connection with an EU data watchdog that has warned of the ‘considerable risks’to privacy, posed by the new energy smart meters. Already around 150, 000 smart meters have been installed in Maltese households and another 110,000 are in the process of being installed.”

“According to the European Data Protection Supervisor, safeguards are required as to how different Authorities are using ‘ massive collection’ of consumers’data uploaded by these newly uploaded meters. The EU data watchdog claims that this technology is able to track when consumers are at home, how they spend their free time and even what medical devices they use. Unless people are safeguarded, criminals may be aware when a house is unoccupied.

“The British Government has, in fact, made it very clear that consumers should have the option of deciding whether they share detailed information about their electricity use giving them the right to opt out of sharing their information on a daily basis, and opt in to sharing more frequently gathered data. The European Protection Supervisor is deeply concerned over the ‘potential intrusiveness’of smart meters which can tract what members of a household do in the privacy of their homes.

“Third-party companies might be able to learn about consumers’ sleeping patters, whether they watched Television or used certain tools and even detect if members of a family are making use of medical devices such as a dialysis machine.”

The Forum of Maltese Unions, concluded that “while recognising that smart meters are extremely useful to detect fraud and to assist suppliers plan the supply of electricity more effectively, urge and press the competent authorities to ensure that there are absolutely no risks whatsoever on the privacy of all Maltese citizens.”

Permalink: Enemalta gives assurances over privacy on smart meters