Qld energy utilities prepare for consumer data right

Queensland Energy has moved to get their data holdings in order to meet proposed requirements under the federal government’s impending consumer data right legislation.

The government-owned corporation recently hit the market for a strategy to support an “open data strategic vision” for its group of energy utilities.

The group of subsidiaries consists of electricity distribution companies Ergon Energy and Energex, SPARQ Solutions – the IT department of both utilities - and energy services business Yurika Energy.

It wants to ensure “appropriate strategy and plans” for the open data vision ahead of the introduction of the national consumer data right (CDR) legislation.

The CDR will give individuals unprecedented access to their banking, energy and telco data, starting with bank data through an open banking pilot from July 2019.

The idea is that consumers will be able to compare offers, access cheaper products, and more easily switch to new services.

“Under proposed CDR legislation, energy providers will be required to provide ‘standard, comparable, easy-to-read digital information that third parties can readily access,” tender documents state.

“This requirement is expected to come into effect in 2019.”

Queensland Energy wants to use the open data strategy to “easily supply and consume repeatable and trusted data and analytics to solve business problems and create opportunities for our people, customers and communities.”

It will need to ensure data is accurate, is “accessible, repeatable, usable and fit for purpose”. It will also need to be “focused on defining and solving business problems”.

The chosen supplier will also need to formulate the strategy in a way that “incorporates business protocols, practices and capabilities” and references current digital transformation programs such as its enterprise resource planning replacement.