Being Accountable is Smart: Navigating the Technical and Regulatory Landscape of AI-based Services for Power Grid

TL;DR

This paper discusses the importance of accountability in AI-based smart grid services, proposing a technical approach to address regulatory challenges and ensure safe, responsible deployment in critical energy infrastructure.

Contribution

It introduces a novel technical framework for assessing accountability risks throughout the AI service lifecycle in the smart grid context.

Findings

Highlights shortcomings of current AI regulations for energy sector

Proposes a lifecycle-based accountability assessment approach

Addresses safety and societal concerns in AI deployment

Abstract

The emergence of artificial intelligence and digitization of the power grid introduced numerous effective application scenarios for AI-based services for the smart grid. Nevertheless, adopting AI in critical infrastructures presents challenges due to unclear regulations and lacking risk quantification techniques. Regulated and accountable approaches for integrating AI-based services into the smart grid could accelerate the adoption of innovative methods in daily practices and address society's general safety concerns. This paper contributes to this objective by defining accountability and highlighting its importance for AI-based services in the energy sector. It underlines the current shortcomings of the AI Act and proposes an approach to address these issues in a potential delegated act. The proposed technical approach for developing and operating accountable AI-based smart grid services allows for assessing different service life cycle phases and identifying related accountability risks.