The Role of Data Protection in the Energy Sector – Industry Insight from Keith Ellis, VP Engineering, Innowatts

Dublin, Ireland | February 14 2025

We have entered an era where data is most certainly king. Each day, whether at work or home, we are exposed to thousands of pieces of information. With more data comes more concern, especially regarding its security. Cyber firm Acronis found in a recent survey that 64% of respondents identify data breaches as their top privacy concern, with 1 in 4 having experienced data theft or loss. The security of data is just as important as having the data itself.

The energy sector is no different, facing its own data security challenges. As energy systems become more interconnected, robust data privacy strategies are not optional; they are essential to ensuring operational resilience and customer confidence. The energy industry increasingly relies on digital technologies such as AI-driven predictive analytics, making data privacy a critical factor in maintaining trust, mitigating risks, and enabling innovation.

A Timely Reminder

The recent Data Privacy Day was a timely reminder for us all on the importance of safeguarding information. In the energy sector, where vast amounts of data are generated daily, protecting this information is both a regulatory obligation and a strategic necessity. 

The digital transformation of the energy sector has brought immense opportunities for efficiency, sustainability, and improving grid reliability. Some of these innovations include:

• Smart Meters, Network and Behind-The-Meter Devices: Collect granular energy consumption data to improve forecasting and grid management
• AI-driven Analytics Platforms: Help utilities to optimise energy demand, enhance grid stability, and improve consumer experiences
• Cloud-based Infrastructure and Computing: Enables immediate data processing and decision-making.

Given the inherent sensitivity of this data, maintaining its integrity, confidentiality, and availability is essential for the energy sector. Historically, data privacy has been considered as a compliance requirement – however in today’s world, it plays a much broader role:

• Trust: Strong privacy policies reinforce confidence in energy providers by assuring their customers that their data is managed responsibly
• Risk mitigation: Cyber threats targeting the energy industry are on the rise, and robust data privacy measures reduce exposure to breaches and attacks
• Innovation: Those that prioritise data privacy can adopt emerging technologies with minimal risk, ensuring the safety of their data while staying ahead of industry trends – ultimately providing a competitive advantage.

The need for enhanced data privacy measures is underscored by the increase in cyber-attacks on utilities. In 2024, cyber-attacks on US utilities surged by 70% [Source], highlighting the vulnerability of this critical infrastructure. Secure and resilient energy infrastructure depends on robust data privacy strategies not merely as an ethical responsibility, but as a critical necessity. 

What we are Doing

At Innowatts, our Energy Data Analytics Platform is built to meet these demands. By embedding the following features, we ensure that sensitive data is protected without compromising performance or innovation:

• Data Encryption: We safeguard sensitive data at every touchpoint, ensuring it remains protected during storage and transmission
• Privacy by Design: Our solutions are built with privacy as a core principle, not an afterthought
• Continuous Monitoring and Proactive Risk Assessments: Regular audits, vulnerability management, and intelligent detection and response enable us to proactively address emerging risks.

Our commitment to data privacy goes beyond compliance with standards as we anticipate the evolving needs of the industry while embedding trust and transparency into every layer of our operations, ensuring we are safeguarding the privacy of the data that we manage and depend on.

Data Security is a Necessity

A secure and resilient energy future depends on protecting the integrity of the data that drives it. As cyber threats evolve and data regulations become more stringent, energy providers and stakeholders must continuously evaluate and enhance their data privacy strategies. By prioritising data privacy, we can build a more secure, transparent, reliable and customer-centric energy landscape.

Keith A Ellis is Vice President of Engineering at Innowatts, where he oversees the design and development of secure, scalable energy analytics infrastructure, ensuring data privacy remains a foundational element of the company’s innovative solutions.

Innowatts is the industry-leader in AI-powered Energy Data Analytics.

Innowatts’ industry-leading solutions empower energy strategies and accelerate the Energy Transition of retail energy providers, utilities, grid operators, and commercial, industrial, and public entities worldwide. The Innowatts SaaS Platform utilizes best-in-class Artificial Intelligence – trained on 53 million meters – to unlock value and deliver customer-centric actionable intelligence from energy data with unprecedented accuracy. The award-winning platform provides companies with the Insights, Forecasts and Energy Data Solutions they need to be more predictive and proactive. It helps them better understand and connect with their customers, manage risk, maintain grid reliability, stay ahead of sustainability trends, and improve their bottom line. This enables companies to effectively pursue their Net-Zero, Reliability, and Profitability goals by unlocking the value of their energy data. 

Learn more at innowatts.com and join us on LinkedIn.