Web Privacy Policy

This policy is to inform visitors to austinenergy.com and its companion websites of our online information practices. By using our websites, you acknowledge and accept all terms of use outlined below and also found on the City of Austin website.

Collection and Use of Personal Information 

Our website does not collect personal identifying information about you unless you voluntarily provide it. This notice applies to all information collected or submitted on austinenergy.com and its companion websites. On some pages, you can request to receive materials or register for programs or City of Austin utility account services. The types of personal information collected at these pages include, but are not limited to:

• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Email address
• Social Security number
• Utility Account information
• Banking/Bank Account information 

When requesting such information from you, the personal identifying information you provide to us is used solely to process your request. We do not share this personal identifying information with parties outside Austin Energy unless necessary to complete your request. When this type of sharing does occur, we have agreements with our vendors that allow limited use of your personal identifying information strictly for the purpose of providing the immediate service.

As a governmental entity, Austin Energy is subject to the Texas Public Information Act and may be required upon written request to release some types of information submitted through the City of Austin Communications and Public Information Office.

Contact the Texas Attorney General's Office at 1-800-252-8011 or 512-463-2007 (in Austin), for more information about this law.

If you supply your postal address online, you may receive periodic mailings from Austin Energy. These mailings may include information on new programs, services, or upcoming events and news that may be of interest. If you do not want to receive such mailings from Austin Energy in the future, please let us know by sending an email to custinfo@austinenergy.com.

If you supply your email address online, we will only use it for utility-related purposes. Such addresses are not used for any other purpose and are not shared with outside parties unless necessary to complete your request.

Cookies

When Visiting Our Websites

When you visit austinenergy.com or one of our companion websites, to browse or download documents, or otherwise access a site, our Web server places a cookie on your computer to collect and store certain information about your visit. This information does not identify you personally.

The information gathered includes:

• the date and time you access our site
• the pages you view on our site
• the type of browser and operating system used to access our site
• if you linked to austinenergy.com from another site, the URL of the referring website

The above information is gathered and analyzed to keep us current with industry standards and to improve our website.

When Visiting Our Secure Applications

When accessing secure applications on austinenergy.com or our other websites for which you have subscribed, our Web server places a cookie on your computer to collect and store usage information about your visit. This information does not identify you personally.

The usage information gathered includes (but is not limited to):

• the date and time you access our site
• the pages you view on our site
• the amount of time you spend on our site
• the type of browser, operating system, and mobile device used to access our site
• if you linked to austinenergy.com from another site, the URL of the referring website

Text Alerts / Short Message Service (SMS)

Customers who view Austin Energy’s power outage map have the option to sign up to receive Short Message Service (SMS) text alerts to their mobile phones.  

Review the Terms and Conditions of Austin Energy’s SMS Text Alerts for Power Outages.  By accessing and/or using such service, you agree to those Terms and Conditions for Short Message Service (SMS), as stated there.  

Rights

By providing us any content, including sending text messages or email messages, you grant Austin Energy (and the City of Austin) perpetual, irrevocable, and fully sublicensable license to use such content in any manner we see fit, whether to distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, publicly perform, and publicly display any and all text message or email content provided by you to Austin Energy (in whole or in part) and to incorporate such content into other works in any format now known or later developed.  However, this grant of license shall not extend to personal identifying information which you provide to us. 

Data Security

To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of your information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.

Children's Privacy

Our website contains energy-related information that may be of educational value to children. To the extent that children use our website, any information collected is not stored on the web server. We do encourage children and young teens to seek consent from their parents before providing any information to us.

Copyright

Many areas of our website provide data, information and images that are copyrighted. Austin Energy owns the copyright in such works, and no unauthorized use is permitted, and no authorized use is allowed without explicit written permission of the Austin Energy Manager of Utility Marketing Services.

File Modification 

Express permission to use files from austinenergy.com may be granted to users who agree not to modify or alter the original file. Changes or modifications to these files cannot take place without the explicit written permission of Austin Energy. All credits, notices, copyrights and trademarks must remain intact within the file. Email Austin Energy Website Feedback for more information.

File Integrity 

Austin Energy will not be held liable with regard to downloaded files. Occasionally, austinenergy.com files are expired, deleted, moved, or archived. The download, maintenance, and use of these files are the responsibility of the user. Austin Energy may make improvements or changes to this site at any time.

Third-Party Links

Austin Energy grants permission for websites to link to the home page of austinenergy.com or to any page within. Third party links to austinenergy.com should be checked regularly in case a file or directory has changed or been moved since the link was created. Creating a link to austinenergy.com does not constitute an agreement that a reciprocal link be placed on austinenergy.com. You may submit requests for reciprocal links to Austin Energy Website Feedback for consideration.

General Disclaimer of Warranties

All information, materials and services on this website are provided to you “as is” and without warranty of any kind either express or implied including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, title, non-infringement, security or accuracy.

You further agree that Austin Energy, the City of Austin and any other parties involved in creating and delivering this website's contents have no liability for any damages of any kind, including direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages, including with respect to the information, services, content, or advertisements contained on or otherwise accessed through this website. Austin Energy does not endorse any third party website, content, goods, or services. Links to third party websites are provided for information only. Austin Energy is not responsible for privacy policies or content of third party websites.

Other than as required under applicable consumer protection law, under no circumstance will Austin Energy or the City of Austin be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on information obtained through this site or a linked site, or your reliance on any product or service obtained from a linked site. It is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any opinion, advice or other content available through this site, or obtained from a linked site. Please seek the advice of professionals, as appropriate, regarding the evaluation of any specific opinion, advice, product, service, or other content.

How to Contact Us

If you have any questions about this security statement or the practices of this site, you can contact:

Legal Services
Austin Energy
4815 Mueller Blvd.
Austin, TX 78723-3573

Phone: 512-322-6179 or 512-322-6151 or 512-322-6598
Email: Legal Services

If you have any questions or suggestions about Austin Energy websites, email Austin Energy Website Feedback.

Published July 2017