This notice explains the practices of National Cooperative Services Corporation DBA Utility Capital Solutions (“Utility Capital Solutions”) in collecting and using online information and will acquaint you with the choices you can make about sharing your information, as a user of our websites (the “Utility Capital Solutions Websites”). This policy applies only to information collected, maintained and used by Utility Capital Solutions. Utility Capital Solutions has no control over, and is not responsible for, the privacy practices or policies of third party websites that users connect to through links on our sites, nor does it apply to information posted on our sites that is provided by third parties.
Collection and Use of Personal Information
Many parts of the Utility Capital Solutions Websites can be used without providing personal information. Other areas of the Utility Capital Solutions Websites can be used only after providing a limited amount of personal information in order to become an authorized user. If you provide personal information in order to register to receive materials, to participate in programs, to become an authorized user or for other purposes, we may use that information and share it internally in conjunction with responding to your inquiries or requests (for example, if you send us emails, we may use your return email address to answer the email) and we may use it to update our own customer contact information system. We may also use it to advise you of information, features, products and services, and as otherwise described elsewhere in this policy.
The types of personal information Utility Capital Solutions collects from registrants includes, but is not limited to name, company name, physical address, email address, phone number and user created names and passwords. Utility Capital Solutions may also collect resumes, cover letters and salary requirements for individuals applying for employment.
Your submission of personal information, including a resume, for employment purposes is completely voluntary, although the submission of such information is necessary to access those areas of the Utility Capital Solutions Websites requiring registration. If you submit personal information or a resume for employment to Utility Capital Solutions, the information may be used to communicate with you in writing, by telephone or online, to evaluate your application, to analyze Utility Capital Solutions staffing needs and practices or to otherwise efficiently manage the Utility Capital Solutions hiring process. Resumes are not used for any other purpose and are not shared with entities unrelated to Utility Capital Solutions. Resumes for individuals applying for employment are generally retained for a period of two years from date of application.
We use an analytics tool provided by a third party to track and analyze the use of the Utility Capital Solutions Websites. The tool collects and stores information about user sessions and stores aggregated technical and navigational data. The collected data is used to service and maintain user accounts, and respond to user inquiries. Utility Capital Solutions owns this collected and aggregated data and will not share personal non-public information with third parties. The aggregated data are analyzed by Utility Capital Solutions and the results are used to improve website design and functionality in order to deliver better products and services.
Information Sharing
Generally, Utility Capital Solutions will not provide your personal information to entities not affiliated with Utility Capital Solutions. However, Utility Capital Solutions may use or may disclose personal information in order to: protect the legal rights of Utility Capital Solutions, or its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, partners, agents or contractors; protect the safety and security of visitors to the Utility Capital Solutions Websites; protect against fraud or for risk management purposes; improve the user experience, troubleshoot, maintain or perform services associated with the Utility Capital Solutions Websites, including technical services and employment application services. Utility Capital Solutions may also use or may disclose personal information in order to comply with the law or legal process, or to pursue remedies against users who attempt to damage, misuse or interfere with the operations of the Utility Capital Solutions Websites.
Cookies
Cookies are small bits of information that the Utility Capital Solutions web server deposits on the hard drive of a user’s computer, primarily, to show us how our websites are being used. Among other things, cookies help our server identify your computer’s IP address and Internet browser, the domain from which our sites are accessed, the date, time and duration of access, pages visited, links visited and whether you have previously visited the Utility Capital Solutions Websites. This information helps us guard against, detect and investigate unauthorized access and provides authorized users a personalized and more convenient visit to our sites. Cookies also enable us to manage and improve the Utility Capital Solutions Websites by automatically collecting basic information, which we evaluate to determine usage trends. Because cookies also serve a security function, users whose organizations require the user to be an authorized user may not opt-out of the information collection that cookies accomplish; however, you may be able to set your browser to alert you when a cookie is being created and to offer you the opportunity to decline a cookie in some instances. Declining a cookie will significantly limit your use of the Utility Capital Solutions Websites’ capabilities.
Links to Other Websites
The Utility Capital Solutions Websites may contain links to other useful sites. Please be aware that Utility Capital Solutions is not responsible for the information sharing and privacy practices of other websites. We encourage users to read the privacy statements of every website that collects personally identifiable information since we have no control over information gathered by these third parties. This policy applies solely to information collected by the Utility Capital Solutions Websites.
Data Security
Unfortunately, no one and no technology can promise absolute data security. We have put in place physical, electronic and managerial measures (including data and communications monitoring) to deter unauthorized access and data corruption and to facilitate the appropriate use of information in a manner that is consistent with this policy. Nonetheless, Utility Capital Solutions cannot guarantee the security of the information we collect and cannot be responsible for data security breaches caused by illegal or unauthorized acts.
Protecting Children’s Privacy Online
The Utility Capital Solutions Websites are not directed to individuals under the age of thirteen (13), and we request that these individuals do not provide personal information through the Utility Capital Solutions Websites. We do not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 13.
Corporate Change of Control or Sale of Asset
In the event of a corporate change in control resulting from, for example, a sale to, or merger with, another entity, or in the event of a sale of assets or a bankruptcy, Utility Capital Solutions reserves the right to transfer your personal information to the new party in control or the party acquiring assets.
Changes to this Policy
From time to time Utility Capital Solutions may revise this policy including, without limitation, to reflect changes in the law, changes in our products or services, changes in our practices regarding the collection and use of personal information, or to reflect new technologies or features of the Utility Capital Solutions Websites. We encourage you to review this policy periodically so that you are up to date on our most current policies and practices. The last date this policy was revised is the effective date set forth above.
Questions
If you have any questions about this policy, please contact our Member Center, in writing, at membercenter@nrucfc.coop, or National Cooperative Services Corporation, 20701 Cooperative Way, Dulles, VA 20166; or call the Member Center at (800) 424-2955.