Resolve, To Examine Cyber Security and Privacy Issues Relating to Smart Meters

Sec. 1. Examination of cyber security and privacy issues relating to smart meters. Resolved: That the Public Utilities Commission shall examine current cyber security and privacy requirements that exist under federal and state law, rules and utility policies and practices that apply to transmission and distribution utilities and identify potential regulatory gaps that may exist by examining the extent to which existing federal requirements may or may not apply to cyber security and privacy issues regarding smart meters and related systems. To the extent regulatory gaps exist, the commission shall develop recommendations to address them. As part of this examination, the commission also shall consider issues related to access to customer data and the disclosure of transmission and distribution utility residential electric energy consumption and cost information pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 14, section 6045; and be it further

Sec. 2. Monitor federal cyber security initiative. Resolved: That the Public Utilities Commission shall actively monitor the efforts by the United States Department of Energy to launch a cyber security initiative to enhance cyber security on the electric grid with input from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the United States Department of Homeland Security and publicly and privately owned utilities; and be it further

Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That the Public Utilities Commission shall report the results of its examination and recommendations required pursuant to section 1 and the progress of the federal cyber security initiative as it applies to smart meters and related systems under section 2 to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology by January 15, 2012. The Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology may submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature based on the report.