Online Privacy Statement
Respect for Your Privacy
Pedernales Electric Cooperative, Inc. (“PEC” or “Cooperative”) respects the privacy of its members and of visitors to its various online platforms, including www.pec.coop (the “Website”). In addition to PEC’s Privacy Policy, this Online Privacy Statement explains the treatment of personal information collected through PEC’s online platforms, including the Website and mobile applications such as Smart Hub. All use of PEC’s online platforms, and associated services, are subject to this Online Privacy Statement.
Information Collected
Personal Information: PEC obtains personal information concerning you based on how you interact with PEC through its online platforms, including, but not limited to, when you contact PEC with inquiries, register for an online account, use PEC’s online bill payment services, complete member surveys through PEC’s Website, or use PEC’s online employment application services. By accessing PEC’s online platforms, and/or associated services (including when applying for employment through PEC’s Website), you are consenting to PEC’s use of your personal information in accordance with this Online Privacy Statement and the Website’s Terms of Use.
Personal information also includes any username or password selected or assigned to you when you interact with PEC’s online platforms. You should keep any such username and password confidential. If you believe that an unauthorized person may have learned your password or accessed your account, please contact PEC by using any of the contact methods below.
Non-Identifiable Information: When you interact with PEC through its online platforms, PEC may receive or generate non-identifiable information, such as the date and time you accessed the online platform, the pages you viewed on the online platform, how you used the online platform, the type of browser and operating system used to access the online platform, and/or whether you linked from another website and, if so, the URL of the referring website. Typically, such information is collected passively. For example, PEC may collect this information using log files, cookies, pixel tracking, ad tracking, or similar technologies. PEC may store non-identifiable information, or it may be provided to, or maintained by, its affiliates, agents, or service providers. PEC uses this information to improve the functionality of the online platform and any associated services.
Location Information
Certain applications on mobile devices, such as Smart Hub, may transmit information to PEC about your location. An example is the inclusion of your physical location when you report an outage using your mobile device. PEC may use that information to improve the services provided or for the development of new services.
Analytics
PEC uses Google Analytics, which uses non-identifiable information from cookies and other similar technologies to report trends to PEC about the Website and mobile application use. To learn more, including how to opt out, visit https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
PEC also uses analytics tools from various social media platforms that uses non-identifiable information to show PEC how users engage with those platforms. To learn more, review your individual privacy settings located within your social media account(s).
Security
PEC strives to maintain personal information with commercially reasonable and appropriate technical, administrative, and physical safeguards that strive to protect against loss, unauthorized access, destruction, misuse, modification, and improper disclosure.
How Personal Information is Used
PEC uses personal information as necessary to conduct PEC business and for the original intended purpose, or other purpose as explicitly authorized by law. This includes, but is not limited to, billing, collecting payments, conducting authorized credit assessments, reporting bad debt, contacting customers, resolving concerns, providing or improving PEC’s online platforms and associated services, marketing, and meeting legal concerns or obligations. In addition, if personal information is provided for a specific reason, PEC may use the personal information in connection with the reason for which it was provided. For instance, if you contact PEC with an inquiry, the personal information you provide will be used to answer your question or resolve your concern.
PEC may share your personal information with authorized business partners necessary to assist in carrying out PEC business without further notice to you. PEC may also use other companies to perform certain business-related functions in connection with the Website, mobile applications, and associated services. Examples include electronic mailing services, maintaining databases, and processing payments. When PEC engages another company to perform a function of this nature, your personal information may be provided for them to perform that function; however, as a general matter, PEC does not provide email addresses or other personal information to any third parties for the marketing of the third parties’ goods or services without your consent. In addition, PEC does not sell, rent, loan, or exchange your personal information except as allowed according to PEC’s Membership List Policy.
PEC may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law or to (1) comply with a legal obligation, (2) protect and defend PEC’s rights or property, (3) act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of the Website or the public, or (4) protect against PEC’s legal liability.
Opt-Out Option
PEC may use your personal information to send email, telephone, or text message communications related to your service or PEC business, unless you opt out. To opt out of this communication, you must either contact PEC (using any of the contact methods below) or follow any opt-out instructions sent with the initial communication.
Links to Other Websites
PEC’s Website and mobile applications may contain links to other websites that are not owned or controlled by PEC. Also, you may have linked to PEC’s Website from another website that is not owned or controlled by PEC. Be aware that PEC is not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites, and this Online Privacy Statement applies only to information collected through PEC’s Website, mobile applications, or in connection with any associated services. You should carefully review the privacy practices of any third-party website before providing such website with any personal information.
Social Media Platforms
PEC may interact with registered users of various social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Any content you post to such social media platforms (e.g., pictures, information, or opinions), as well as any personal information that you otherwise make available to users (including without limitation, your profile), is subject to the applicable social media platform’s terms of use and privacy policies. PEC recommends that you review this information carefully to better understand your rights and obligations regarding such content. In addition, PEC reserves the right to block, delete, or edit posts on its social media platforms where such posts are determined by PEC to be inappropriate, unprofessional, offensive, or otherwise in violation of PEC’s policies including the PEC Decorum Policy.
Children’s Privacy
While PEC’s Website contains energy-related information and information that may be of educational value to children, no personal information is required for you to use those features. PEC does not knowingly permit persons under the age of 13 to register or provide personal information through the Website, and the provision of personal information by children through the Website is strictly prohibited. PEC encourages parents to supervise and participate in their children’s internet activities, and children are urged to exercise caution and consult their parents before providing any personal information to any website on the internet.
Changes to This Privacy Statement
It may be necessary for PEC to make changes to this Online Privacy Statement from time to time, to reflect changes to the Website or associated services, technology, or legal requirements and guidelines. PEC reserves the right to update or modify this Online Privacy Statement (on a prospective basis) without prior notice to you. You are encouraged to review this Privacy Statement before you provide any personal information.
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your personal information or privacy-related issues, you can contact PEC via any of the methods listed directly below:
Mail:
Pedernales Electric Cooperative
Attn: Legal Services
P.O. Box 1
Johnson City, TX 78636-0001
Email:
Phone:
888-554-4732
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Revised: July 2022
