Privacy Policy

Denton County Electric Cooperative, Inc. d/b/a CoServ Electric and its affiliate CoServ Gas (collectively, “CoServ”) is committed to protecting your privacy and developing technology that gives you the most powerful and safe online experience and reliable energy services. This CoServ Privacy Policy explains data collection and use practices of the web properties “coserv.com,” “coservelectric.com,” “coservgas.com” and “payments.coserv.com” (the “CoServ Websites”). As well, this Privacy Policy applies to the meters on CoServ’s electric and gas distribution systems, including data-transmitting electronic meters on CoServ’s electric system (“CoServ advanced meters”), and governs data collection and usage. By using the CoServ Website and/or accepting electricity through a CoServ advanced meter or natural gas through a CoServ natural gas meter, you consent to the data practices described in this Policy.

COLLECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

CoServ collects personally identifiable information, such as your email address, name, date of birth, taxpayer identification number, driver’s license number, home or work address, or telephone number. CoServ also collects anonymous demographic information, which is not unique to you, such as your ZIP code, age, gender, preferences, interests and favorites.

There is also information about your computer hardware and software that is automatically collected by CoServ. This information can include: your IP address, browser type, domain names, access times and referring Website addresses. This information is used by CoServ for the operation of the service, to maintain quality of the service and to provide general statistics regarding use of the CoServ Website.

CoServ ADVANCED METER INFORMATION

CoServ advanced meters collect customer data, including electricity usage data.  CoServ protects CoServ advanced meter customer data in the same manner that it protects other personal information that it collects. In particular, except under the limited circumstances discussed above, CoServ does not release your CoServ advanced meter customer data to any other person or business entity without your affirmative consent, except for the third-party-hosted website for the CoServ advanced meter data.

USE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

CoServ collects and uses your personal information to operate the CoServ Website and CoServ advanced meters, and deliver the services you have requested. CoServ also uses your personally identifiable information (1)  to inform you of other products or services available from CoServ and its affiliates, (2) for the purpose of printing your statements and (3) for the purpose of providing credit-card processing to pay your bills. CoServ may also contact you via surveys to conduct research about your opinion of current services or of potential new services that may be offered.

CoServ does not sell, rent or lease its customer lists to third parties. CoServ may, from time to time, contact you on behalf of external business partners about a particular offering that may be of interest to you. In those cases, your unique personally identifiable information (i.e., email address, name, home or business address, telephone number, energy usage) is not transferred to the third party.  In addition, CoServ may share data with trusted partners to help us perform statistical analysis, send you email or postal mail, provide customer support or arrange for deliveries. All such third parties are prohibited from using your personal information except to provide these services to CoServ, and they are required to maintain the confidentiality of your information.

CoServ does not use or disclose sensitive personal information, such as race, religion or political affiliations, without your explicit consent.

CoServ keeps track of the Websites and pages that our customers visit within CoServ, in order to determine what CoServ services are the most popular. This data is used to deliver customized content and advertising within CoServ to customers whose behavior indicates that they are interested in a particular subject area.

Please keep in mind that if you directly disclose personally identifiable information or personally sensitive data through CoServ Websites, this information may be collected and used by others.

CoServ encourages you to review the Privacy Policy statements of Websites you choose to link to from the CoServ Website so that you can understand how those Websites collect, use and share your information. CoServ is not responsible for the Privacy Policy or other content on Websites outside of the CoServ family of Websites.

CoServ may disclose your personal information collected on the CoServ Website or through CoServ advanced meters, without notice, only if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on CoServ or the CoServ Website; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of CoServ; or (c) act under exigent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of CoServ, or the public.

USE OF COOKIES

The CoServ Website uses "cookies" to help you personalize your online experience. A cookie is a text file that is placed on your hard disk by a Web page server. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you, and can only be read by a web server in the domain that issued the cookie to you.

One of the primary purposes of cookies is to provide a convenience feature to save you time. The purpose of a cookie is to tell the Web server that you have returned to a specific page. For example, if you personalize CoServ pages, or register with the CoServ Website or services, a cookie helps CoServ to recall your specific information on subsequent visits. This simplifies the process of recording your personal information, such as billing addresses, shipping addresses and so on. When you return to the same CoServ Website, the information you previously provided can be retrieved, so you can easily use the CoServ features that you customized.

You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most Web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of the CoServ services or Websites you visit.

SECURITY OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

CoServ secures your personal information from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. CoServ secures the personally identifiable information from CoServ advanced meters and the information you provide on computer servers in a controlled, secure environment, protected from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. When personal information (such as a credit card number) is transmitted to other Websites, it is protected through the use of encryption, such as the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol.

CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

CoServ will occasionally update this Privacy Policy to reflect company and customer feedback. CoServ encourages you to periodically review this Privacy Policy to be informed of how CoServ is protecting your information.

CONTACT INFORMATION

CoServ welcomes your questions or comments regarding this Privacy Policy. If you believe that CoServ has not adhered to this Privacy Policy, please contact CoServ at [email protected], or write to us at: Denton County Electric Cooperative, Inc., d/b/a CoServ Electric 7701 S. Stemmons Corinth, Texas 76210. We will use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly determine and remedy any problem.

If the Privacy Policy changes, we will post an updated version on the CoServ Websites. The policy revision date will be posted at the bottom of the page.

FAQ

What kind of information does CoServ collect about me? How do you use my information? Does CoServ share my information with third parties? How do I access my information? How do I change my information? How does CoServ protect kids’ privacy? What are cookies? How does CoServ use cookies on its site? How do I know if my subscription information is secure? What about links to other websites and services? Can CoServ change this privacy policy?

What kind of information does CoServ collect about me?

We collect information you voluntarily submit to CoServ. Examples include:

  • Identifying information such as your name and email address
  • Security information such as your username, password or password hint, and acceptance of policies, licenses and warranties
  • Contact information such as your name, mailing address and phone number
  • Billing information such as credit card, expiration date, billing address and account history
  • CoServ Websites behavior such as the pages visited, downloads, or searches requested
    Browser information such as the browser version, IP address and the presence of various plug-ins and tools.

How do you use my information?

As appropriate, the personal information collected on the CoServ Websites will be used to operate or improve the CoServ Websites, to provide the service(s), or to carry out the transaction(s) you have requested or authorized

In support of these uses, CoServ may use your personal information to provide you with more effective customer service, to improve the CoServ Websites and any related CoServ products or services, and to make the CoServ Websites easier to use by eliminating the need for you to repeatedly enter the same information or by customizing the CoServ Websites to your particular preference or interests.

Does CoServ share my information with third parties?

CoServ employs third-party vendors and service providers (“Service Providers”) to perform various functions on its behalf. Services provided by Service Providers may include, but are not limited to, (i) managing customer information, (ii) processing credit card or check card payments, (iii) analyzing data, (iv) developing, hosting and maintaining the CoServ Websites and any related databases, (v) printing statements, or (vi) communicating with our customers about CoServ. CoServ does not authorize any of the Service Providers to make any other use of your information or to contact you outside the context of the services related to the CoServ Websites.In the unlikely event of a sale of some or all of our business, CoServ will disclose your personal information to a purchaser that agrees to abide by the terms and conditions of the Privacy Policy.

CoServ reserves the right to disclose information about you as required by law, in response to legal process and law enforcement requests, and as necessary to protect the property, interests and rights of CoServ, its affiliates, and others

How do I access my information? How do I change my information?

Your personal information can be accessed and changed by contacting CoServ using the information below. Please be sure to include your full name and email address when contacting CoServ to edit your personal information. Also, please allow one week for email requests and three weeks for postal mail requests to be fulfilled.Email: [email protected] Write to us at: Denton County Electric Cooperative, Inc., d/b/a CoServ Electric 7701 S. Stemmons, Corinth, Texas 76210

How does CoServ protect kids’ privacy?

CoServ does not knowingly sell or market, solicit information from, or sell products or services for purchases to individuals under 18 years of age. If you are a parent of a child under the age of 18, and your child has provided CoServ with personal information using the CoServ Websites, you may contact CoServ using the information provided below and we will delete any personal information about your child as soon as reasonably possible.Email: [email protected] Write to us at: Denton County Electric Cooperative, Inc., d/b/a CoServ Electric 7701 S. Stemmons, Corinth, Texas 76210

What are cookies? How does CoServ use cookies on its site?

CoServ receives and stores certain types of information whenever you interact with us. Like many websites, CoServ uses "cookies," and we obtain certain types of information when your web browser accesses the CoServ Websites. This enables CoServ to provide you with a personalized experience at the CoServ Websites.

How do I know if my subscription information is secure?

CoServ takes extensive measures to protect the personal information we collect or use. We have implemented physical, technological and organizational procedures designed to protect the integrity and security, and to ensure the appropriate use, of your personal information collected or used by CoServ. For example, online payment information is encrypted using Secure Sockets Layering (SSL) before it is transmitted over the Internet. SSL is the industry standard for secure online transactions.

What about links to other websites and services?

The CoServ Websites may contain links to other third-party websites. CoServ does not control the privacy practices of these websites. You should review the third-party websites’ privacy policies before providing any personal information. CoServ is not responsible for the content or practices of any linked third-party websites, and we provide these links solely for the convenience and information of our visitors.

Can CoServ change this privacy policy?

CoServ may change this privacy policy at any time without notice. However, if the Privacy Policy changes, we will post an updated version on the CoServ Websites. The policy revision date will be posted at the bottom of the page.

Updated: September 10, 2014