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Mission:data Coalition Urges Maryland Public Service Commission to Specify Data Sharing Practices for Virtual Power Plant Pilots

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Maryland Public Service Commission has received comments from the Mission:data Coalition regarding the implementation of Virtual Power Plant (VPP) pilot programs in the state. The coalition, a not-for-profit organization focused on improving utility customers' access to their energy usage and cost data, has expressed concerns about the lack of clarity on data sharing practices for third-party implementers. They recommend that the commission establish a formalized data sharing framework prior to the launch of pilot programs to ensure timely and effective access to customer and system data.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Mission:data Coalition has recommended that the Maryland Public Service Commission establish a formalized data sharing framework prior to the launch of Virtual Power Plant (VPP) pilot programs to ensure timely and effective access to customer and system data.
  • The coalition suggests specifying the types of customer data needed for the success of the VPP pilot, including meter and account numbers, premise address, applicable rate class, and other utility program participation.
  • Other states, such as California and New Hampshire, have established clear and defined lists of data points that utilities are required to provide to approved third parties, emphasizing the importance of specifying customer data types.
  • The coalition appeals to the commission to not solely rely on utilities to decide upon the customer data to be shared, suggesting a collaborative approach to establish a data access proposal in the VPP pilot program.
  • Modernizing the Letter of Authorization (LOA) process and reusing data-sharing infrastructure for future programs is also recommended by the coalition, highlighting the need for a convenient, web-based solution to avoid roadblocks in the pilot.
  • Implementing a future data access tariff is necessary to support accountability and transparency, both to the commission and to market participants.

Statistics:

  • Over 200,000 households have signed up for VPPs in California, where Rule 24 includes an extensive and clearly defined list of data points that utilities are required to provide to approved third parties.
  • New Hampshire defines what data utilities are required to provide and requires utilities to provide best available data subject to a 99.5 percent availability requirement.

Sources:

  • "Proposed Distribution System Support Services Pilots and Time-of-Use Tariffs." Pepco Holdings, July 1st, 2025, pp. 11.
  • "Electric Rule No. 24 Direct Participation Demand Response." Pacific Gas and Electric Company, https://www.pge.com/tariffs/assets/pdf/tariffbook/ELEC_RULES_24.pdf, 12 December 2017.
  • "Baltimore Gas and Electric Company. Baltimore Gas and Electric Company Proposal for Virtual Power Plant Pilot Program and Certain Time-Of-Use Enhancements." July 1st, 2025, pp 14.

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