Privacy Policy

Last Revised: December 28, 2006

Maintaining your privacy and trust are important to us at Puget Sound Energy Foundation ("the Foundation"). On this Web site (the "Site"), the Foundation collects information from you in connection with certain features and services. This privacy policy is designed to tell you how we collect and use personal information on this Site so that you can make an informed decision about using our Site. Please read this policy before using our Site or submitting any personal information to us. By using our Site, you consent to the information collection and use practices described in this policy. The Foundation reserves the right to change the provisions of this privacy policy at any time, but will alert you that changes have been made by indicating on the privacy policy the date it was last updated. This posting constitutes the Foundation's notice of any changes to this policy. We encourage you to review our privacy policy whenever you visit our site to make sure that you understand how any personal information you provide will be used.

The Foundation is the sole owner of the information collected on this site. We will not sell, share, or rent this information to others in ways different from what is disclosed in this policy.

Contents:

  1. What information is collected on this site?
    In order to provide you with certain services on our Site, we may need to collect different types of information. In particular, we occasionally may need to collect certain types of personal information (information that may be used to personally identify or contact you) in order to provide you with particular features, services, or offers. Here's a summary of the kinds of information we collect at the Foundation Site, and how we collect that information:
    1. Passive Collection
      Our software automatically collects certain information from your computer when you log on or move about our Site. This information is not linked to any other personal information you tell us, it just gives us a broad picture of who is on our Site and which areas your users are visiting. It is our way of learning what's important to our users and what isn't, and improving our Site to make it more interesting and useful for you. It also enables us to provide improved security and efficiency on our Site. The two main ways in which this general information is collected are through "log files" and "cookies."
      1. Log Files
        Log files are records of user activity collected to analyze trends, administer the Site, track user's movement, and gather broad types of information for aggregate use. The kinds of general information we collect in the log files includes:
        • The IP address of your computer
        • How many people visit our Site
        • Which pages of our Site are visited most often
        • Which ISPs our visitors come from (e.g. AOL, MSN, etc.)
        • Which browsers users are used to visit our Site (Netscape, Internet Explorer, etc.)
        • Time of day users visit our Site
      2. Cookies
        The Foundation may also use "cookies" to gauge how users interact with our Site. A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user's hard drive containing information about the user. Cookies cannot execute code or deliver a virus to your computer. Usage of a cookie is not linked to any personally identifiable information, it merely helps the Site to be more efficient. Typically, a cookie enables your computer to load Web site files faster on subsequent visits. We also use cookies to track a user's path for security purposes, as well as to target your interests in an effort to enhance your experience on our Site. If you wish to block, erase, or be warned of cookies, please refer to your browser instructions or help screen to learn about these functions. If you reject a cookie, you may still use our Site, however, you may be limited in your use of certain areas.
    2. Active Collection
      At several places on our Site, we collect certain information that you voluntarily provide to us which may contain personally identifiable information (for example, your name, street and e-mail address, or telephone number). Such personally identifiable information could also include any other information you may provide when voluntarily participating in customer service contacts, surveys, or other transactions.

       

    3. Site and Service Updates
      We may also send the user site and service announcement updates. Users are not able to un-subscribe from service announcements, which contain important information about the service. We may also communicate with the user to provide requested services and in regards to issues relating to their account via email, phone, or postal mail.

  1. How Does the Foundation Use Information Collected on this Site?
    The Foundation is the sole owner of the information collected on this Site. Personal information that you provide to the Foundation (such as a personal e-mail address) may be used by the Foundation in the following ways:

    • to contact you about your use of the Site or about our services;

    • to respond to your comments or requests;

    • to request feedback and enable us to develop and improve the Site;

    • for internal purposes; and

    • for the specific purpose for which the information was provided.
  1. What Information is Shared with Third Parties?
    We will not sell, share, or rent your personal information to others in ways different from what is disclosed in this policy without first obtaining your authorization

    We may disclose personal information you provide to independent contractors, service providers and consultants who are engaged by or working with the Foundation, consistent will all applicable laws and regulations. We may partner with other parties to provide specific services and will share information with them in order to facilitate their provision of services. For example, when the user signs up for these services, we will share names, or other contact information necessary for the third party to provide these services. The Foundation may also contract with outside companies to administer our mailing lists or provide other services. Your personal information may be shared with an outside company for the sole purpose of administering the services and programs you have selected. The Foundation makes an effort to ensure, but does not guarantee, that all third party partners agree to the same high level of privacy safeguards that the Foundation itself provides to its users.

    Additionally, we may share aggregated information (i.e. information we collect that does not allow you to be personally identified or contacted, for example demographic and site usage information) with third parties such as partners a without your authorization. This is not linked to any personal information that can identify any individual person.

    As noted above, information collected by Foundation Source on behalf of the Foundation on this Site or on co-branded pages is the sole property of the Foundation but may be used by Foundation Source for the purpose(s) for which it was collected.

    The Foundation reserves the right to share information with third parties if we are required to do so by law or if in our good faith judgment, such action is reasonably necessary to comply with the legal process, to respond to any claims, or to protect the rights of the Foundation or the public.
  1. What security precautions are taken to protect my information online?
    The Foundation takes reasonable precautions to protect our users' information. Physical, electronic and policy measures are in place to minimize the loss, misuse, or altering of any information we receive from you. When you are asked to enter sensitive information (such as, if applicable, a credit card number and/or social security number), that information is encrypted and is protected with the advanced SSL encryption software. Encryption makes unauthorized access to the information much more difficult.

    While we use SSL encryption to protect sensitive information online, we also take reasonable precautions to protect user-information off-line. All of our users' information, not just the sensitive information mentioned above, is restricted in our offices. In fact, only certain employees are granted access to personally identifiable information. If you have any questions about the security at our Web site, you can send an email to psefoundation@pse.com for more information.

     
  2. How do links affect my privacy?
    This web site may contain links to other sites. Please be aware that the Foundation is not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy policies of each and every web site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy policy applies solely to information collected by this Web site. Similarly, if you entered this Site through a link from another Web site, the Foundation is not responsible for or bound by the privacy policies or processes of that Web site.

     
  3. How can I update or correct my personal information?
    The Foundation has an interest in making sure that the information we do collect is accurate. Therefore, we strongly believe that those with whom we transact should have the ability to access and edit the personal information they have provided to us. To check, verify, correct or update the accuracy of your personally identifiable information please contact us by email at psefoundation@pse.com.

     
  4. How is the privacy policy updated?
    The Foundation reserves the right to change this privacy policy at any time. If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes in an updated privacy policy so our users are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under circumstances, if any, we disclose it. The effective date of the last revision is always posted at the top of the privacy policy. This posting constitutes the Foundation's notice of any changes to this policy. We encourage you to review our privacy policy whenever you visit our Site to make sure that you understand how any personal information you provide will be used.

     
  5. Who can I contact with questions about this site?
    Questions or comments about the Foundation's Site may be directed to the Puget Sound Energy Foundation at psefoundation@pse.com.