MUSP: A Multi-service, User Self-controllable and Privacy-preserving System for Smart Metering

This paper proposes a Multi-service, User Selfcontrollableand Privacy-preserving (MUSP) system for securesmart metering. This system has a number of novel properties.Firstly, it can report users’ fine-grained consumption data togrid operators and suppliers securely and with user privacypreservation capability. These are achieved by using a homomorphicencryption technique in conjunction with selective dataaggregation and distribution methods, so only the aggregateddata are delivered to the authorised data recipients only ona need-to-know basis. Secondly, it allows suppliers to accesstheir customers’ attributable meter readings regularly. To protectusers’ privacy, suppliers, by default, can access new data onlyat a low frequency (e.g. once a month). However, MUSP allowsusers (1) to adjust (control) this frequency and (2) to releasenew data by demand (e.g. when change of tariff occurs), thusputting users’ privacy preservation in their own hands. Thirdly,it is equipped with an easy and user friendly supplier switchingfacility to allow users to switch providers easily and conveniently.Security analysis and performance evaluation demonstrate thatthe MUSP system can protect users’ privacy while providingthese services in an efficient and scalable manner.