Govt releases voluntary data sharing framework for power sector

The Power Ministry has released a voluntary data sharing framework for the sector as it aims to deal with inconsistencies in metadata across agencies as well as to create a standardised classification of data to enable secure, structured sharing and access sectoral data.

The National Electricity Data Sharing framework offers broad principles and institutional mechanisms to enable structured, secure, and transparent data sharing in the Power sector. The endeavor is also to ensure protection of critical information infrastructure.

Adopting the framework, in full or in part, will be voluntary for sectoral entities such as Gencos, Discoms, transmission licensees, Load Despatch Centres (LDCs), Electricity Regulatory Commissions (ERCs), agencies such as the CEA, Grid India, etc, among others.

To ensure protection of sensitive data, the datasets designated as non-shareable by the data issuer entity will remain outside the scope of this framework.

To create an ecosystem for data sharing across the country, a National Electricity Data Division (NEDD), housed in the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), will be created. Besides, a National Electricity Data Portal (NEDP) will also be established by leveraging the existing National Power Portal (NPP).

The Ministry said that issues with Power sector data include inconsistent metadata across agencies, different data definitions, no standard data classification, and gaps in data quality and machine readability. Further, there is limited visibility for regulators, policymakers, and researchers, which also impacts long term and resource adequacy planning.

The framework is an exercise to create a secure and structured sharing mechanism for sharing of electricity sector data for planning, operations, regulation, and research. Another important aspect is to provide for anonymisation and de-identification of consumer or personally identifiable data by the issuing entity before its publication and sharing.

The National Electricity Data Division (NEDD) will set up and maintain the National Electricity Data Portal for publishing data, including metadata of public datasets.

The division will also coordinate with the Power Ministry and sectoral data issuers on interoperability of metadata standards, API specifications and data exchange protocols.

A 8-member National Electricity Data Governance Committee (NEDGC) will also be formed, which will be led by the Chairman of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

The panel will oversee implementation and adoption of the framework across the Power sector and will conduct its annual review as well as coordinate with the IT Ministry, Cabinet Secretariat and other stakeholders.

Under the framework, the data issuing entity will have to designate a Data Governance Officer (DGO), who should not be below two levels from the head of the institution, and preferably at the level of Chief Engineer in the power sector.

The DGO will ensure implementation of the framework at the entity level, monitor and process incoming data requests within prescribed timelines and also manage non-disclosure agreements.

The data issuing entity also has to constitute a Data Governance Committee (DGC) with the DGO as member secretary or convenor and will facilitate the entity-level data sharing procedure, approve classification of datasets, decide requests escalation, oversee audits, maintain a data sharing risk register and adjudicate data-breach incidents.