Midwest Energy News: Is this essentially a new legal frontier, since a decade ago, this access to data wasn’t even an issue because we didn’t have the technology to get it?

Templeton: The utilities have always had monthly data for billing purposes, of course.  As we’re moving to the smart grid, part of the whole theory of the billions of dollars that have been and will be invested is that we’d have much better information -- when is energy being used, by whom and for what purpose -- so we could target opportunities to save energy and to shift when it is being consumed.

What role does the law play in this emerging market and sector? Is it important to have proactive laws and policies protecting consumers as things are changing?

Law has an important role, and it is absolutely important to ensure that consumers’ interests are represented and protected.  I’m heartened by the fact that in the past decade, one sees environmental groups as well as traditional ratepayer groups participating—and often joining forces—in the stakeholder processes in front of regulators and legislators. These are not always easy policy choices.  It’s important that more and different perspectives are brought to bear and not just the traditional utility and regulator perspectives.

Read more at Midwest Energy News