ETH Zurich : Computer Science : Pervasive Computing : Distributed Systems : Education : Student Projects : Abstract

Security in the Smart Energy Grid (L)

Status: Abgeschlossen

Security challenges in the smart energy grid go beyond just defending against energy theft and smart meter security exploits. Privacy is a difficult challenge in the design of future smart energy grid for the home. Utility companies are not the only source of potential privacy abuse. The recently announced Google PowerMeter service, for instance, receives real-time usage statistics from installed smart meters. Although such metering services might be opt-in, the customer has little or no control over the use of power information delivered to utility companies.

This project should investigate and implement technological solutions for building a user-centered access control system for the smart energy grid. Examples of data types that should be protected include customer account energy consumption -- hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly--, total home energy consumption information, e.g. appliances, gadgets, air conditioners, heaters, lights. Different parties might want to access such energy consumption information, including account owner, delegated people such as caregivers for elderly people or family members, law enforcement agencies, energy companies, battery manufacturers, hot water and air conditioning vendors, electric car manufacturers. The system should enable users to set fine-grained access control policies on energy consumption information and house-hold appliances for interested stakeholders. Problems to be analyzed include data storage location, e.g. inside and outside the house, secure data movement, ensuring data expiry and data protection. The home account owner will want to ensure that their permission is requested before the utility uses their data, shares it or releases it to third parties.

Furthermore, different house members might log into a central portal with different priviledges. For example, the energy consumption information might enable parents to monitor how much time kids spend watching TV, playing computer games or working on school assignments. The user authentication to the central information energy portal should be very easy, possibly through the use of voice recognition.