The Universal Energy® Commitment to Privacy
At Universal Energy, we know you are the reason we are in business. Our longstanding commitment to safeguarding your right to privacy is an important part of our client relationship management practices.
We place strict controls on the protection and use of personal information within our systems and web sites and ensure that our employees are trained to respect your privacy at all times.
The Universal Energy® Customer Privacy Policy spells out the commitments of the Universal Energy companies and the rights of customers regarding personal information. We also comply fully with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, which came into effect on January 1, 2001, and British Columbias Personal Information Protection Act.
In addition to the Universal Energy Privacy Policy, the Universal Energy® companies may also be subject to the requirements of applicable legislation, tariffs and regulations and the orders of any court or other lawful authority. Any time you do business with any of our companies, or with anyone acting as an agent on our behalf, you are protected by the rights and safeguards contained in this Universal Energy Privacy Policy.
To ensure our commitment to your privacy is upheld, we have The Universal Energy® Customer Privacy Policy (the Policy) that you are reading. It is intended to convey our commitment to you as a customer and how we use and don't use your personal information in our business.
Employees and Agents
Our privacy policy also governs the behaviour of our employees and agents acting on our behalf. All of our employees who have access to personal information have been trained on the handling of such information.
Personal Information
Personal information is information about an identifiable individual. This includes information about your product and service terms and usage. Publicly available information, such as a public directory listing of your name, address, telephone number, and electronic mail address, is not considered to be personal information. Personal information also does not include the name, title, business address or telephone number of an employee of an organization when used for business communications and information on our business customers is not covered by this Privacy Code.
Collecting Information Helps Us Serve You Better
The Universal Energy® companies collect personal information only for the following purposes:
- To establish and maintain responsible commercial relations with you and provide you with ongoing service;
- To understand your needs and eligibility for products & services;
- To recommend particular products & services to meet your needs;
- To develop, enhance, market or provide products and services;
- To manage and develop the Universal Energy® business and operations, including personnel and employment matters; and
- to meet legal and regulatory requirements.
- Your personal information will not be used for any other purpose without your consent.
Other Parties with Whom the Universal Energy® Companies May Share Personal Information
While our general policy is not to provide personal information to any party outside of the Universal Energy® companies, there are certain limited circumstances, outlined below, in which it is necessary to do so. When we do provide personal information to third parties, we provide only that information that is required in the circumstances. Information provided to third parties is used only for the purpose stipulated and is subject to strict terms of confidentiality.
Employees of the companies to whom we may provide information must adhere to our privacy standards. Third parties include:
- An agent acting on behalf of Universal Energy®, such as a company hired to perform Services on behalf of Universal Energy® .
- Another company that is a service provider to Universal Energy® , such as a pipeline company or other party that helps to deliver Universal Energy® services.
- A collection agency, for the express purpose of the collection of past due bills.
- Law enforcement agencies, in emergencies, for internal security matters, or where required by court order or search warrant.
- Emergency services, in emergency situations.
Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention
We use and disclose your personal information when, for example:
- It is for purposes described in this Privacy Code;
- We are required by law to do so;
- The information is publicly available; or
- It is required for any additional purposes that may be described at the time we advise you of the use of your personal information (which consent may be express, deemed or implied as explained below).
Your personal information may be disclosed when, for example, it is:
- Permitted or required by applicable law or regulatory requirements;
- Part of the Universal Energy® regular reporting activities to other Universal Energy® subsidiaries in and outside of Canada;
- To protect the rights and property of Universal Energy® ;
- During emergency situations or where necessary to protect the safety of a person or group of persons;
- Personal information that is already available to the public;
- To employees, contractors, consultants and other parties (including other members of Universal Energy® ) who require the information to assist us to establish, maintain and manage our business relationship with you, including, for example, third parties that provide services to us or on our behalf or third parties that collaborate with Universal Energy® in the provision of services to you;
- To another party, in the event of a change in ownership of all or a part of Universal Energy® through some form of merger, purchase, sale, lease or amalgamation or other form of business combination, provided that the parties are bound by appropriate agreements or obligations which require them to use or disclose your personal information in a manner consistent with the use and disclosure provisions of this Privacy Code, unless you consent otherwise; and
- With your consent.
We may use or disclose your personal information without your knowledge or consent where we are permitted or required by applicable law or regulatory requirements to do so.
The Universal Energy® commitment to privacy
We take all of the necessary precautions to ensure the safeguarding of your information, whether it is stored electronically or in paper format. In all cases, information is retained in secure facilities, protected from unauthorized access and kept only as long as is reasonably required. For example, our electronic files are backed up for redundancy, password protected and accessible only by authorized employees, on a need-to-know basis.
Consent
It is important to us that we collect, use or disclose your personal information where we have your consent to do so or as provided in this Privacy Code. Depending on the sensitivity of the personal information, your consent may be express, implied or deemed (using an optout mechanism). Express consent can be given orally, electronically or in writing. Implied consent is consent that can reasonably be inferred from your action or inaction. For example, when you accept our products or services, we will assume your consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information for purposes related to your acceptance and use of those products or services, or for other purposes identified to you at the relevant time. Deemed consent is consent we assume in the event that you do not exercise an opt-out mechanism offered to you.
Typically, we will seek your consent at the time that we collect the personal information. In some circumstances, your consent may be obtained after collection but prior to our use or disclosure of your personal information. If we plan to use or disclose your personal information for a purpose not previously identified (either in this Privacy Code or separately), we will endeavor to advise you of that purpose before such use or disclosure.
We may collect, use or disclose your personal information without your knowledge or consent where we are permitted or required to do so by applicable law or regulatory requirements.
Consent may be withdrawn or changed, subject to legal or regulatory requirements. Where required, Universal Energy® will advise you of any implications of withdrawing or changing consent. If you wish to withdraw consent, where consent is needed, you may contact Universal Energy® using one of the methods listed in the "Contacting Us" section, below.
Choice/Opt-Out
You may change or withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice, by contacting the office of our Privacy Officer using the contact information set out below. In some circumstances, a change in or withdrawal of consent may limit our ability to provide products or services to, or acquire products or services from, you.
We assume, unless you advise us otherwise, that by receiving a copy of this Privacy Code or by continuing to deal with us, you have consented to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information as explained in this Privacy Code.
Safeguarding Personal Information
Universal Energy® will endeavour to safeguard personal information using methods that are appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
Accuracy of Personal Information
It is important that the personal information Universal Energy® holds about you is accurate and current. Universal Energy® requires you to keep us informed of changes to any personal information.
Retaining Personal Information
Except as otherwise permitted or required by applicable law or regulatory requirements, Universal Energy® will endeavor to retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which the personal information was collected.
Accessing Your Personal Information
You can ask to see the personal information that we hold about you. If you want to review, verify or correct your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer using the contact information set out below. Please note that any such communications must be in writing.
When making an access request, we require specific information from you to confirm your identity and right to access, as well as to search for, and provide you with, the personal information that we hold about you. We may charge you a fee to access your personal information; but we will advise you of any fee in advance. If you need help in preparing your request, please contact the office of our Privacy Officer.
Universal Energy® may not be able to provide you with access to your personal information, where such refusal is permitted or required by applicable law or regulatory requirements. Universal Energy® will inform you of the reasons why, subject to any legal or regulatory restrictions, access has been denied.
Use of 'Cookies'
During user interaction with one of our Internet sites, we may use a browser feature called a 'cookie' to collect information anonymously and track user patterns on our web sites. A cookie is a small text file containing a unique identification number that identifies your browser - but not you - to our computers each time you visit one of our sites that uses cookies. Cookies tell us which pages of our sites are visited and by how many people. This helps us to enhance the on-line experience of visitors to our sites. Unless you specifically advise us, we will not know who you are, even though we may assign your computer a cookie. We cannot use cookies, by themselves, to disclose the individual identity of any site user, however we may employ the use of the cookie in specific circumstances where we are obligated to assign you particular information for the purposes of you signing up for Universal Energy® services.
You will find that most major web sites use cookies and most major browsers are set up to accept them. If you wish, you can reset your browser either to notify you when you have received a cookie, or to refuse to accept cookies. You do not need cookies to visit Universal Energy® sites. However, if you refuse to accept cookies, you may not be able to use some of the features available on our sites such as personalization features, or features that allow you to electronically sign-up for our services.