India Proposes National Framework to Standardise Electricity Data Sharing
The Indian government has released a draft National Electricity Data Sharing Framework aimed at creating a uniform system for collecting, classifying, and sharing data across the power sector. The initiative seeks to improve access to information on generation, transmission, distribution, demand, and renewable energy while safeguarding consumer privacy and critical infrastructure.
The Ministry of Power has shared the draft with stakeholders for comments. The framework proposes the establishment of a National Electricity Data Centre and a National Electricity Data Portal to facilitate a nationwide data-sharing ecosystem. Currently, electricity data is fragmented across multiple agencies, using inconsistent formats and definitions, which hinders effective use by policymakers, researchers, and industry.
Under the proposal, data would be classified into two categories: public and access-controlled. Public datasets—such as installed capacity, generation mix, market prices, and aggregated statistics—would be freely available. Access-controlled data—including feeder-level operational data, detailed load flow studies, and de-identified smart meter data—would require registration and KYC verification.
The draft explicitly excludes sensitive information like cyber defence protocols, real-time strategic telemetry, transmission vulnerabilities, and pre-clearing power exchange bid data. To protect consumer privacy, personally identifiable information must be anonymised or de-identified before sharing, using techniques like anonymisation, aggregation, pseudonymisation, and tokenisation, in line with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
Adopting the framework is voluntary. Utilities that adopt it may appoint a data governance officer to oversee classification, process requests, ensure data quality, and handle grievances. Public datasets would be free for viewing, but utilities could charge for bulk downloads or commercial API access. Academic institutions may receive concessional or free access, while government agencies would not be charged.
The framework also encourages the use of APIs and secure data environments to enable sharing without downloading datasets. Data issuers may provide preferential access to Indian AI developers and startups through these platforms. The Central Electricity Authority will prescribe common data formats to ensure uniformity across the sector.
