Privacy Statement for Thunder Bay Hydro
effective January 1, 2004
Thunder Bay Hydro is committed to keeping the personal information of its customers accurate, confidential, secure and private. This Privacy Policy has been designed to inform employees, customers, and subcontractors of Thunder Bay Hydro of our commitment and recognition to our obligation to meet the spirit and terms of the federal Personal Information and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
This Privacy Policy describes the principles Thunder Bay Hydro will use to protect the privacy of personal information in its possession. It addresses the reasons why such information is collected, how it is used, how it's confidentially protected and outlines customers' rights with respect to this information. This Privacy Policy incorporates and expands the 10 principles for the protection of personal information, as devised by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).
This Privacy Code does not apply to information about business customers who carry on business as corporations, partnerships or other forms of association. Thunder Bay Hydro does, however, protect the confidentiality of such information in accordance with the law and our own policies.
Robert Mace
President
Personal Information Protection Principles:
1. Accountability
Thunder Bay Hydro is accountable for the protection of all personal information
within the organization's possession or control, including any personal information
that has been transferred to a third party for regulatory, legal or processing
purposes. Thunder Bay Hydro will require a comparable level of protection of
this information from its third party relations. Mr. Andrew Covello, Vice President
of Human Resources & Safety, is designated
as Thunder Bay Hydro's Chief Privacy Officer, and has overall responsibility
for our protection of personal information and for Thunder Bay Hydro's compliance
with this Privacy Policy.
2. Identifying Purposes
Personal information that Thunder Bay Hydro collects from customers includes:
the customer's name and address and other contact information; the meter number;
facts about consumption of power, both historic and current; facts about payment
for electric service, including general financial information; credit and reference
information, such as date of birth, employment information, drivers licence,
previous addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, medical information
to be used in case of emergency power outages, and bank information requested
for pre-authorized payments.
When an individual applies for service, Thunder Bay Hydro will make the individual aware of the purposes for which Thunder Bay Hydro is requesting the personal information. If Thunder Bay Hydro identifies other purposes for which the personal information may be used, Thunder Bay Hydro will seek the individual's consent prior to such use. Thunder Bay Hydro will advise that it is the individual's right to refuse permission for Thunder Bay Hydro to use personal information for any new purposes.
Additional purposes for collecting personal information may be identified to an individual before or at the time of collection. However, at a minimum, Thunder Bay Hydro will collect personal information for the following purposes:
- Billing and collection of payments for electric service
- Pre-authorized payment for services
- Priority restoration of electric service to the correct address
and meter, as may be required by medical
circumstances - Energy sector legal, regulatory and settlement requirements
3. Consent
Thunder Bay Hydro will obtain consent before or when it collects, uses or discloses
personal information about an individual. An individual can provide consent to
the collection, use and disclosure of personal information about them expressly
or implicitly. Thunder Bay Hydro will collect, use or disclose personal information
without an individual's consent only in limited circumstances as permitted by
law. Subject to certain legal and contractual restrictions and reasonable notice,
an individual can refuse or withdraw their consent to the collection, use or
disclosure of personal information about them at any time.
All existing customers will be informed of what types of personal information have been collected, the purpose for the collection and the procedures available for contacting Thunder Bay Hydro with any inquiries. All new customers will be provided with a consent form and an accompanying explanation about the collection, use and disclosure of their personal information when requesting service.
4. Limiting Collection
Thunder Bay Hydro limits the amount and type of personal information it collects
to that which is necessary for the business of the utility. Each affiliate of
Thunder Bay Hydro will be responsible for its own collection, use and disclosure
of information. Personal information will be collected using procedures which
are fair, transparent and lawful.
5. Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention
Thunder Bay Hydro will only use the personal information for the purpose for
which it was collected as identified in principle #2, unless consent is given
by the individual to use or disclose it for another purpose. In accordance with
the Affiliates Relationship Code, created under the provincial Electricity Act,
no customer information will be disclosed by one affiliate to another.
Thunder Bay Hydro will develop explicit retention periods for closed accounts (zero balance), after which the personal information will be destroyed or made anonymous. Under certain exceptional circumstances, Thunder Bay Hydro may have a legal duty or right to disclose personal information without the individual's knowledge or consent.
6. Accuracy
In order to ensure the reliable delivery of electric service and the correct
billing for such service, all personal information will be kept accurate, complete
and up to date. Individuals may challenge the accuracy and completeness of personal
information about them and have it amended, as appropriate.
7. Safeguards
In executing its responsibilities with respect to the confidentiality of personal
information, Thunder Bay Hydro will employ a number of safeguards, appropriate
to the sensitivity of the information, to protect personal information against
loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use, or modification.
Such safeguards will include physical measures, for example locked filing cabinets,
restricted access to offices, security clearances and limiting access on a “need
to know” basis, and use of passwords and encryption. Procedures
for implementing these measures will be communicated to all employees and third
parties to ensure compliance with this principle.
8. Openness
Thunder Bay Hydro will make its policies and practices relating to the protection
of personal information available to its customers. Thunder Bay Hydro will keep
its customers informed of these policies and practices and customers shall be
provided access to all related policies and procedures via Thunder Bay Hydro's
web page and bill inserts. The information will be available in a format that
is easy to understand.
9. Individual Access
Any customer of Thunder Bay Hydro can have access to the personal information
about them that Thunder Bay Hydro has in its possession or control. Any customer
may request that their personal information be amended for purposes of accuracy
and completeness. Customers can make their requests by telephone, via e-mail,
or in writing. Contact information is provided under point #10, page four. Response
to an individual's request will be made in a timely and efficient manner.
10.
Challenging Compliance
Any customer of Thunder Bay Hydro may challenge Thunder Bay Hydro's compliance
with this Privacy Policy by contacting our Chief Privacy Officer directly. Thunder
Bay Hydro has policies and procedures to receive, investigate and respond to
individuals' complaints and questions. If the customer is not satisfied with
the way Thunder Bay Hydro has responded to a complaint, the customer can contact
the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
Contact Information for Thunder Bay Hydro's
Chief Privacy Officer:
Mr. Andrew Covello, Vice President, Human Resources & Safety
Thunder Bay Hydro
Human Resources & Safety Division
34 North Cumberland Street, Mezzanine Level
Thunder Bay, ON P7A 4L4
Mr. Covello's direct contact information:
Phone: (807) 343-1020
Fax: (807) 344-7520
E-mail:
If using e-mail as a point of contact, please ensure that you identify “Privacy” in your subject line.
This page last updated 2012-02-06.
