Energy consumer data management models : a richer taxonomy and four reflections from the European experience

Access to metering and consumption data of final customers is crucial to support core market activities and emerging data-driven services in liberalised electricity markets. Directive (EU) 2019/944 mandates Member States to ensure efficient and secure data access by customers and eligible parties but does not specify how data management models should be organised. Instead, it pursues their interoperability through implementing acts. The first implementing act requires EU Member States to report on their national practices for metering and consumption data access by 5 July 2025. The role model that was defined in this context and the nature of the entities taking up these roles across Member States offer an opportunity to develop a richer taxonomy to classify data management models. As such, potential ambiguities of the traditional taxonomy, which distinguishes centralised, hybrid and decentralised models, can be clarified and the reporting of national practices become more meaningful. The experience gained so far in Europe inspires four reflections on the evolution of data management models. These relate to the centralisation of data exchange frameworks, the importance of governance and stakeholder involvement, the challenge of increasing data volumes, and the growing interest in near real-time data.