Smart Metering

There is a lot of buzz about "smart metering" @ my workplace. Well the name itself suggested that the guys were up to some smart stuff :), excuse my sad jokes. So the curious self that I am, have set out to understand the whole rationale behind the smart meter program which by the way has a roll out plan till 2020. Phew!! Now that's called vision. Whilst I am still trying to digest the whole concept there are a few things that concern me out right,

(1) Smart metering aims at ease of data distribution to simplify the industry processes. How is data privacy ensured.
(2) Though the whole idea of a carbon-free economy is catching on, how are customers going to be convinced that the whole process is going to be beneficial or will they be mandated to accept it nevertheless
(3) It is smart METERING, a lot of focus is around metering and the data collection. Hope we do NOT end up with CRM systems which become meter (site) centric instead of customer centric which is where everyone is trying to get to, to serve the customer better

Hope the quest answers the above and much more. As they say it, keep watching this space for more on smart metering.