We know that many visitors to our Website are concerned about the information they may provide and how we may use that information, so the following privacy policy (this “Privacy Policy”) is provided to address those concerns. In this Privacy Policy, “you” or “your” refers to any user of this Website, and “we” or “us” or “our” refers to the owner(s) or operator(s) of this Website. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully and ensure that you understand it before using this website (this “Website”) or any information, material, services, and features offered to users of this Website (collectively, “Services”), all of which are subject to this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy is incorporated in and a part of our Website Terms of Use. If you have any questions about our Privacy Policy, you may e-mail us at [email protected].
What Information is Covered by this Privacy Policy?
This Privacy Policy applies to any information, data, comments, suggestions, testimonials, photos and other images, media, remarks, complaints, ideals, statements or other materials of any kind that you submit, send or provide to us (collectively, “Information”), including, without limitation, any personal and Personally Identifiable Information and data (including, but not limited to, your name, address, zip-code, location, e-mail address, and telephone, cell phone, or mobile device number or address) that you provide to us as part of the registration with this Website, use of this Website, in communications with us, or otherwise (“Personally Identifiable Information”).
What Personally Identifiable Information Do We Collect?
We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting Personally Identifiable Information that you provide in connection with your use of this Website. Except as otherwise provided in this Privacy Policy, we do not collect Personally Identifiable Information from individuals unless they provide it to us voluntarily and knowingly. We only collect Personally Identifiable Information as set forth below. Generally, you are not required to register or provide information to us in order to view much of our Website.
Registration
Registration may be required to access certain parts or Content of the Website or to receive certain Services via this Website. You may register with this Website (“Registration”). There is no cost for the Registration. As part of the registration, you will be asked to provide certain Personally Identifiable Information and other Information about yourself, such as your name, address, and/or e-mail address. You are solely responsible for maintaining and updating the Information in your Registration information. You agree to ensure that the Information, including, without limitation, your name, address and e-mail address, in your Registration is always current.
You may also be asked to select a user name or identification, such as a screen name or screen identification (each, a “User Name”) and a password (the “Password”). There may be specific requirements or conditions on the selection of the User Name and Password. To the extent applicable, you will be solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the User Name, Password, and your account information and liable for any consequences of your sharing such with any third party.
Information Collected by Other Means or Media
In some situations, we may also collect Personally Identifiable Information and other Information about you through other means, directly or indirectly. For example, if you access this Website or any Services via your internet service provider (ISP) or wireless carrier or through another third party, we may collect Information directly from you or through the third party. In each of these cases, we will apply this policy to any Personally Identifiable Information.
Submissions
We may give you the opportunity to submit questions, comments, suggestions, testimonials, stories, photographs or other images, videos, remarks, reviews, statements, complaints or other materials of any kind (each a “Submission”) by e-mail or direct communication through this Website or in any other form. Unless you state expressly in the Submission that all or any part of it is confidential, you agree that we can use, share, and disclose any and all of the Submission as set forth in the Website Terms of Use and any such Submission and part thereof will not be subject to this Privacy Policy. If and to the extent that you expressly state in the Submission that all or a part of it is confidential, we may use, share, and disclose any and all of the Submission as set forth in the Website Terms of Use but will agree not to disclose publicly any of your Personally Identifiable Information in connection with the Submission. You agree that we may disclose you as the source of the Submission internally and among the operator(s) of this Website or if we are required to do so by law or governmental or court order or to enforce any of our rights related to or in connection with the Submission.
How Do We Use, Disclose, and Share Information?
Non-Personally Identifiable Information
You agree that we may, from time to time, use, disclose, and share with third parties aggregate, non-Personally Identifiable Information to show general demographic and preference information among users of this Website.
Personally Identifiable Information
We use Personally Identifiable Information about you to deliver Services that you request, to keep you informed about changes affecting our Services or your account, to inform you of goods, Services or offers that may be of interest to you, and to improve and enhance this Website and Services. In order to operate the Website or deliver a Service, we may also share your Personally Identifiable Information with a service partner under protective conditions. If you provide us with Personally Identifiable Information, we will take all reasonable and appropriate steps to protect it from unauthorized disclosure.
If you opt in to receive e-mail from us, you can always opt out of future marketing messages by following the directions in each message to “unsubscribe.” However, if you choose to opt out of marketing messages, we reserve the right to contact you regarding your account status, technical support, product information, changes to account terms, and any other matter that might affect our Service to you.
We will not sell or provide your Personally Identifiable Information to unaffiliated companies for commercial purposes unrelated to our business or any Services. We will not share, sell, rent, or disclose any Personally Identifiable Information that we have collected except as stated herein, or in the following instances: (i) we have been given your consent to disclose; (ii) we have previously informed you of the disclosure, including by means of this Privacy Policy or on this Website, or through the Service where you provided your Information; (iii) we are required by law, legal process, or court order to disclose; (iv) disclosure is necessary to identify, contact, or bring legal action against someone who may cause or be causing harm to, or interference with, our rights or property, other users of this Website, or anyone else; (v) to respond to or communicate with regard to an inquiry, request or complaint that you have made or to provide or communicate with regard to a Service which you have requested or used; (vi) to implement or enforce this Privacy Policy and the Website Terms of Use; or (vii) to protect the rights, property or personal safety of us, another one of our users or a member of the public. We may specifically use IP addresses in cooperation with internet service providers to identify users if we deem it necessary to comply with law, to enforce compliance with this Privacy Policy or the Website Terms of Use, or to protect our sites, customers, or others.
Access to Your Information
If at any time you want to know exactly what personal information we hold about you or wish to change personal information that is inaccurate or out of date, please contact us at [email protected] and we will amend your record.
Security
We will endeavor to take all steps deemed reasonable by us to protect your Personally Identifiable Information that we collect from unauthorized disclosure and to prevent possible security breaches in this Website, Services, and customer databases. Your information is stored on secure servers that are protected in controlled facilities. We require our employees and data processors to respect the confidentiality of any Personally Identifiable Information held by us. However, no web site, internet transmission, computer system, or wireless connection is completely secure. Consequently, we cannot guarantee and cannot give an absolute assurance that unauthorized access, hacking, data loss, or other breaches will never occur or that your Personally Identifiable Information will be secure at all times. Your use of this Website and Services is at your own risk. WE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR EVENTS ARISING FROM UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO YOUR PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION.
We may use overseas facilities to process or back-up information. As a result, we may transfer and store your personal information in such overseas facilities. However, this does not change any of our commitments to safeguard your privacy.
Viruses
We use appropriate commercially available anti-virus software to ensure that our Website does not contain or carry viruses. However, due to the rapidly developing nature of viruses and the Internet, we strongly recommend that you also employ anti-virus software when accessing our Website. ONCOR MAKES NO WARRANTY THAT THE WEBSITE OR ELECTRONIC CORRESPONDENCE IS FREE FROM SUCH VIRUSES.
Cookies and Related Technology
Like many companies, we may from time to time use “cookie” technology and related technology on our Website. “Cookies” are small text files a website can use to recognize repeat users, facilitate the user’s ongoing access to and use of a website, and to track usage behavior of, for example, web pages visited. Our Website may automatically collect cookies and other information, such as, but not limited to, your domain name and Internet protocol address. We use cookies and other similar technologies as they are developed to customize your experience with this Website and Services. We may track your use of this Website, including, without limitation, clicks from hyper links, hits per week, duration of your visit, and activities during your visit. This Website may automatically capture other information, such as, but not limited to, your domain name and Internet Protocol addresses, and compile aggregate data for statistical purposes to improve our Content and Services and administer this Website. We use Internet Protocol addresses to help diagnose problems with our server, to administer this Website, and to help ensure the security of your interaction with this Website. Your IP address is used to help identify you. Most Internet browsers will allow you to erase cookies from your computer hard drive, block acceptance of cookies, or receive a warning before a cookie is stored. You should refer to your browser instructions or “Help” screen to learn more about how to manage cookies. Please note, however, that if you block cookies, some portions of this Website and Services may not function properly.
Hyperlinks To and From Other Sites
This Website may frame, and/or contain links to, other web sites. Other sites may also reference or link to this Website. We do not endorse or sponsor other web sites, are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of other web sites, expressly disclaims any statements or assertions made on such web sites, and denies all liability associated with your use of, and the content on, such other sites.
Privacy Protection for Children Using the Internet
Although our Website contains some energy-related information that may be of educational interest to children, the Website and Services are not directed at children under the age of 13 and we do not seek to gather Personal Identifiable Information online from or about children under the age of 13. We recognize the sensitivity of Personally Identifiable Information concerning children under the age of 13 and therefore provide this special notice. We are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations regarding children, including the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”). Except in limited circumstances allowed by COPPA, we will not knowingly collect, maintain, or disclose any Personally Identifiable Information from a child under the age of 13 without first obtaining consent from that child’s parent or legal guardian. We encourage all children and young teens to always seek consent from their parents before providing any information about themselves or their household to anyone on the Internet. Similarly, we encourage parents and guardians to spend time online with their children to become familiar with the types of Content and Services available on this Website and the Internet generally.
If you are a parent or guardian who has discovered that your child under the age of 13 has submitted his or her Personally Identifiable Information without your permission or consent, we will make reasonable efforts to remove the Information from our active list, at your request. To request the removal of your child’s information, please contact us at [email protected] and be sure to include in your message the User Name and Password and/or e-mail address that your child submitted.
(Rev. 01/27/2014)