CleanChoice Energy Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 10, 2024

Your privacy is important to us. This privacy policy ("Policy") describes the types of information that CleanChoice Energy, Inc. ("CleanChoice Energy," "we," "our," or "us") collects from and about you when: (i) we provide you with renewable energy service (each an “Energy Service"); (ii) you visit any of our websites where this Policy is posted (including www.cleanenergyoption.com and cleanchoiceenergy.com), or the mobile optimized version of the website (each a "Site"); or (iii) you download one of our mobile applications (each an “App”). The Energy Service, Sites, and Apps are collectively the "Services." This Policy also explains how we may use and disclose such information, as well as your ability to control certain uses of it.

By using our Services, you agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal and other information as described in this Policy. If you do not agree to the terms of this Policy, please do not use any of our Services.

You acknowledge that this Policy is part of our Terms of Service, and by accessing or using our Services, you agree to be bound by the Terms of Service.

In this Policy, “personal information” refers to information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, to you, and includes “personal data” or similar terms as defined in applicable law.

If you have any questions about our privacy practices, please refer to the end of this Policy for information about how to contact us.

NOTICE AT COLLECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

This notice at collection describes some of the ways that we collect, use, and disclose your personal information. As indicated below, we “sell” or “share” (as defined under California law) some categories of personal information to third parties such as advertising technology vendors, social media platforms, data co-ops, and analytics companies. We do not knowingly sell or share personal information about consumers who are under the age of 16.

1. Categories of Personal Information We Collect, Sell, and Share

2. Purposes of Personal Information Collection and Use

We collect and use your personal information for the following business and commercial purposes:

  • to provide and communicate with you about the Energy Services, or other services, products, or information you request, and to process and complete such requests and any related transactions;

  • to respond to your emails, submissions, questions, comments, and requests and to provide customer service;

  • to process payments, prevent fraud, and determine your geographic and electric utility eligibility for select products and services;

  • to request feedback and to otherwise contact you about your use of the Services;

  • to improve our Energy Services, the Site, and the App;

  • to customize your experience on the Site or App;

  • to send you offers and advertisement that are targeted to your interests;

  • to advertise our products and services including, for example, by using your ratings, reviews, survey responses, and similar content to promote CleanChoice Energy and CleanChoice Energy's products and services;

  • to notify you of promotions, contests, discounts, products and services and contact you if you are a contest or sweepstakes entrant;

  • to develop new products or services and to conduct analysis to enhance current products and services;

  • to contact you if other information is necessary under federal or state laws; and

  • as otherwise described to you at the point of data collection.

3. Retention

We keep personal information as long as reasonably necessary or relevant for the practices described in this Policy. We also keep personal information as otherwise required by law. As a result, the retention period for personal information varies among different types of information and our ongoing business or legal needs for the information, for example in relation to tax, health and safety, and potential or actual disputes or investigations.

A. What Information Do We Collect?

We collect your personal information in a few ways: (1) when you provide it to us; (2) automatically when you use the Site, App, or Energy Services; and (3) from third parties. We also combine information from these different sources.

  1. Information You Provide

We collect personal information from you when you choose to share it with us. This may include when you attempt to enroll or enroll as a customer of our Energy Services, visit one of our Sites or Apps, create an account or profile with us, sign up for newsletters or our email list, sign up to receive email or text message updates from us, participate in a survey or promotion, post a rating or review, post comments or other content on our Sites or Apps, sign up to be a volunteer or host an event, apply for a job or internship, participate in any interactive forums or features that we offer through our Services, or otherwise contact or request information from us.

Whenever you sign-up for and use the Energy Services, your utility company will collect certain information from you including property address and utility company account number. Collection of such information by your utility company is not governed by this Policy. The terms of your utility company’s privacy policies will apply.

2. Information We Collect Automatically

We use cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, software development kits, and similar technologies to collect certain information about visitors to our Sites or Apps and interactions with our emails and online or mobile advertisements, and to allow us to keep track of analytics and certain statistical information which enables us to improve our Services and provide you with more relevant content and advertising on our Sites and Apps and across other sites or apps.

For example, we (and our vendors) automatically collect certain personal information from you, including but not limited to your Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, your operating system, the browser type, device type, unique device identifier of any of your computer(s) or device(s) that are used to access the Site or App, software version, geolocation, phone model, phone operating system, carrier information, the address of a referring website, and your activity on our Sites or Apps. We also may collect personal information about your use of the Site or App, including the date and time you visit the Site or App, the areas or pages of the Site or App that you visit, the amount of time you spend viewing or using the Site or App, the number of times you return to the Site or App, other click-stream or site usage data, emails that you open, forward or click-through to our Site or App, and other sites that you may visit.

3. Information Collected From Other Sources

We may obtain personal information about you from other sources, including from current customers who refer you as a potential user of our Energy Services, data brokers, your local electric utility, and public databases. This information may include your contact information, demographic data, interests and purchasing behavior, and information about the websites and advertisements you viewed or clicked on.

We may also receive certain information about you from a third party when you choose to link to us (such as through a social media network) based on your registration and privacy settings on those third party services. This information may include name, user name, demographic information, updated address or contact information, interests, and publicly-observed data, such as from social media and online activity

4. Combination of Information

We may combine the information we receive from and about you, including information you provide to us and information we automatically collect through our Sites or Apps, as well as information collected from other online or offline sources, or from third party sources.

We also may aggregate or deidentify personal information, so that it is not reasonably linkable to you, your devices, or your household.

B. How Do We Disclose Your Personal Information?

We may disclose each category of personal information we collect to the following categories of recipients:

  • Your local electric utility, to fulfill enrollment of the Energy Service;

  • Our affiliates and subsidiaries, to provide the Energy Services;

  • Service providers, which provide business, professional or technical support functions for the Energy Service, the Site, and the App;

  • Our advertising partners, to provide services and offers that may be of interest to you;

  • Data co-ops, to enable their members to advertise products and services that may be of interest to you;

  • State and Federal agencies, as required to maintain our licenses and comply with our legal obligations;

  • Third Parties, when you give us your direction and consent to do so;

  • Government agencies and courts, when we believe in good faith that we are lawfully authorized or required to do so or that doing so is reasonably necessary or appropriate to comply with the law or legal processes or respond to lawful requests, claims or legal authorities, including responding to lawful subpoenas, warrants, or court orders;

  • Relevant third parties as part of a corporate transaction, in the event of a reorganization, merger, sale, joint venture, assignment, transfer, or other disposition of all or any portion of our business, assets, or stock (including in connection with a bankruptcy or similar proceeding, as well due diligence for any of the foregoing transactions);

  • Other third parties, when we believe in good faith that doing so is reasonably necessary or appropriate to (a) respond to legal claims or defend our legal rights; (b) protect the rights, property, or safety of CleanChoice Energy, our users, our employees, our volunteers, copyright owners, third parties or the public, including without limitation to protect such parties from fraudulent, abusive, inappropriate, or unlawful activity or use of our Services; (c) to enforce our Terms of Service.

Public Forums and Online Petitions. Any information you may disclose on our Site or App, in blogs, message boards, chat rooms, groups, or on other public areas on the Site or App, or other third-party websites that the Site or App may link to, becomes public information. Please exercise caution when disclosing personal information in these public areas, as we are not responsible for the actions of any third parties with whom you share your information.

If you sign an online petition that we provide, you understand that such petition is public information and that we may make the petition, your contact information, and any comments provided in connection therewith publicly available. In addition, we may provide such petitions or compilations thereof, including your comments, name, city, and state to national, state or local leaders, or to the press.

C. Your Privacy Choices and Rights

1. Third-Party Opt-Outs

Cookie Opt-Outs. You may be able to opt out of receiving certain targeted or interest-based advertisements using the browser opt-out tools and consumer choice mechanisms provided by advertising industry participants and self-regulatory groups by following the links below:

Network Advertising Alliance (NAI): https://optout.networkadvertising.org/?c=1

Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA): https://youradchoices.com/control

Google Analytics: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

Mobile Devices. Your device operating system may provide mechanisms that allow you to opt in or opt out of the use of information about your use of mobile apps to deliver interest-based advertising to your mobile device. For more information, consult your device settings.

The DAA offers a tool for opting out of the collection of cross-app data on mobile devices for interest-based advertising. To exercise your choices with respect to participating companies, please download the AppChoices tool at www.aboutads.info/appchoices.

You will need to opt out separately on all of your browsers and devices, as each opt out will apply only to the specific browser or device from which you opt out. If you delete or reset your cookies or mobile identifiers, change browsers, or use a different device, any opt-out cookie or tool may no longer work and you will have to opt out again.

Even if you choose to opt out of receiving interest-based advertising, you may still receive advertising, but the advertisements may be less relevant.

Some of our partners may provide you with additional choices with respect to interest-based advertising. For example, certain social media platforms allow you to control your advertising preferences directly through their services. Please review the privacy policies of the third-party services you use for more information.

Certain parts of our Sites and Apps require cookies. If you limit tracking or decline cookies, you may not be able to use certain features on the Site or App or take full advantage of all of our offerings.

2. Marketing Email and Text Messaging Opt-Outs

If you have chosen to receive promotional text messages from us, you may opt out of future messages by following the instructions that we include such messages. In addition, you may opt out of receiving promotional email updates and newsletters from us by following the instructions provided in those messages. Please note that we may still send you other types of texts or emails (such as those concerning your use of our Energy Service), and may use your information as otherwise described in this Policy, even if you opt out of receiving promotional information.

3. Privacy Rights and Requests

Depending on your U.S. state of residence, you may be able to take advantage of the following privacy rights:

  • Right to Know: You have the right to know what personal information we have collected about you, including the categories of personal information, the categories of sources from which the personal information is collected, the business or commercial purpose for collecting, selling, or sharing personal information, the categories of third parties to whom we disclose personal information, and the specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.

  • Right to Data Portability: You may have the right to access your information in a portable format.

  • Right to Delete: You have the right to request that we delete personal information that we have collected from you. Note that there are some reasons we will not be able to fully address your request, such as if we need to complete a transaction for you, to detect and protect against fraudulent and illegal activity, to exercise our rights, for our internal purposes, or to comply with a legal obligation.

  • Right to Correct: You have the right to correct inaccurate personal information that we may maintain about you, subject to appropriate verification.

    • If you have an account with us, you can also view or modify information stored with your user account by logging in to your account and accessing the Manage My Account page. Changing the information in your account will not affect information previously we previously provided to others under this Policy.

  • Right to Opt-Out of Sale, Sharing, and Targeted Advertising: We use and disclose to third parties personal information for analytics and advertising purposes. You may have the right to opt out of the “sale” or "sharing” of your personal information, or the use and disclosure of your Personal Information for “targeted advertising” (as these terms are defined in applicable law).

  • Right to Appeal: If we deny your request, and you wish to appeal, you may appeal our decision.

How to Submit a Request

To take advantage of your rights, please contact us by email at support@cleanchoiceenergy.com, by phone at 1-800-218-0113. We may request certain information about your interactions with CleanChoice Energy to verify your identity before we can respond to your access, deletion, correction, or portability requests. CleanChoice Energy will confirm receipt of your request within 10 business days and will respond to your request within 45 calendar days, after proper verification, unless we need additional time, in which case we will let you know.

To take advantage of your right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information, or to opt out of targeted advertising, please email us at support@cleanchoiceenergy.com. You may also use an authorized agent to submit a request to opt out on your behalf if you provide the authorized agent signed written permission to do so. You do not need to have an account with us to submit an opt-out request.

Nevada residents may use the email address above to submit a verified request to direct us to stop the sale of your personal information.

We value your privacy and will not discriminate in response to your exercise of your privacy rights.

Agent Requests

You may authorize someone to make a privacy rights request on your behalf (an authorized agent). Authorized agents will need to demonstrate that you’ve authorized them to act on your behalf or must demonstrate they have power of attorney pursuant to applicable probate law. CleanChoice Energy retains the right to request confirmation directly from you confirming that the agent is authorized to make such a request, or to request additional information to confirm the agent’s identity. An authorized agent is prohibited from using a consumer’s personal information, or any information collected from or about the consumer, for any purpose other than to fulfill the consumer’s requests, for verification, or for fraud prevention. 

California “Shine the Light” Requests

If you have provided your personal information to CleanChoice Energy, in accordance with California law, you may request information about our disclosures of certain categories of personal information to third parties or affiliated companies for their direct marketing purposes. To make such request, please send an email to support@cleanchoiceenergy.com or contact us at the address below:

CleanChoice Energy

Attn: California Privacy Rights

1055 Thomas Jefferson St. NW

Suite 650

Washington, DC 20007

We reserve our right not to respond to requests submitted other than to the address specified above.

D. What Steps Do We Take To Protect Personal Information?

We take a variety of physical, administrative, and technical measures to safeguard the personal information we collect. However, no transmission of information over the internet is absolutely secure, and we cannot guarantee our security measures.

To help protect the confidentiality of your personal information, you must keep your password and account information confidential and not disclose it to any other person. You are responsible for all uses of Services by any person using your password. Please advise us immediately if you believe your password has been misused.

E. Children's Privacy

Protecting children’s privacy is important to us. We do not direct the Site or App to, or knowingly collect personal information from, children under the age of 13. If we learn that personal information of persons less than 13 years-of-age has been collected through our Site or App, we will take the appropriate steps to delete this information. If you are a parent or guardian and discover that your child or a minor under the age of 13 has posted, submitted or otherwise communicated personal information to our Sites or Apps without your consent, then you may alert us at support@cleanchoiceenergy.com so that we may take appropriate action to remove the minor’s information from our systems.

F. Notice of Financial Incentive

We offer the following financial incentive (as such term is defined under applicable law):

When you visit cleanchoiceenergy.com, we offer a referral program where you get a $50 VISA® gift card by referring someone in the following condition: the person who you refer must enroll a new account with CleanChoice Energy using your referral code or referral URL and must maintain an active account with CleanChoice Energy.

If you choose to participate in this referral program, you can opt in at https://cleanchoiceenergy.com/refer-a-friend by providing us with your email address.  After you provide us with your email address, we will provide you with a referral code and URL, along with a set of social sharing tools that you can use to invite your friends to switch. The value of your personal information that we collect is reasonably related to the expenses related to the discounts and other perks that we offer to referral program participants. 

You have the right to withdraw from this financial incentive at any time. You may exercise this right to withdraw from this financial incentive program by contacting us by email at support@cleanchoiceenergy.com or by phone at 1-800-218-0113. Please view the referral program’s terms and conditions hyperlinked here.

G. Revisions to this Policy

Each time you use our Services, the current version of the Policy will apply. We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to change, modify, add, remove, or otherwise revise the provisions of this Policy at any time. We will alert you that changes have been made by indicating on the Policy the date it was last updated. Your continued use of the Services following the posting of changes to these terms means you accept these changes. If we change the Policy in a material way, we will provide appropriate notice to you.

H. Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns about this Policy or the practices described herein, please contact us at support@cleanchoiceenergy.com.