Bylaws & Policies

 

Online Privacy Policy Page 1 of 3
Policy 8-1
SAND MOUNTAIN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
SUBJECT: Online Privacy Policy POLICY NO. 8-1
Responsibility: CFO
I. OBJECTIVE
This privacy policy describes how Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative (SMEC) collects, uses, stores, and protects your information when you use our services. This policy applies to all digital platforms SMEC provides, including mobile apps, customer web portals, and other related systems.
By continuing to use our services, you agree to the terms outlined in this policy.
II. POLICY
This privacy policy applies to all digital platforms offered by SMEC, such as:
• Mobile apps (iOS, Android)
• Online customer portals
• Billing and payment systems
• Outage reporting and service request tools
• Usage tracking and consumption dashboards
A. What Information We Collect
1. Information You Provide
When you register or use our services, we collect the information you provide, including:
• Name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Mailing or service address
• Utility account number
• Username and password
• Payment details (credit card or e-check, securely stored as tokens if saved)
• Support messages or inquiries
2. Automatically Collected Information
In order to improve our services, we may automatically collect certain information, including:
• Device type and operating system
• Web browser and version
• Mobile app version
• IP address
• Time and date of access
• Interaction logs with the app
• Device ID
This data is used solely for improving the functionality and security of our services and is not shared with third parties.


 

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Policy 8-1
3. Location Information
Some features, such as outage reporting, may request access to your device's location.
• We do not share your location with third parties.
• You can turn off location services anytime in your device settings.
B. Payments and Billing
When you make a payment through our services, it's securely processed by third-party providers who comply with PCI standards.
• We do not store your full credit card or bank account numbers.
• If you choose to save a payment method, only a secure token is kept on file.
C. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
• Provide, maintain, and improve our services (such as account management, billing, outage tracking)
• Verify your identity and authenticate your account
• Process secure payments
• Respond to your support requests
• Monitor and enhance system performance and security
Rest assured, we do not sell your personal data, nor do we share it for marketing or advertising purposes.
D. Your Opt-Out Rights
You have the right to stop the collection of your data by:
• Uninstalling the mobile app
• Stopping use of the customer portal
• Requesting account deletion of nonessential data by emailing contact@smec.coop.
E. Data Retention
• We retain the information you provide as long as your account is active or as required for
regulatory purposes.
• Automatically collected data is kept for up to 24 months, after which it may be anonymized or
deleted.
• You can request to have your data deleted unless it's needed for service, legal, or billing
reasons.


 

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Policy 8-1
F. Children's Privacy
Our services are not designed for children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
If we learn that we have inadvertently collected such data, we will take immediate steps to delete it.
G. Security Measures
We use industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including:
• Secure, encrypted connections (HTTPS)
• User authentication and access controls
• Restricting access to authorized personnel only
While no system can be guaranteed 100% secure, we take all necessary steps to protect your personal data.
H. Updates to This Policy
From time to time, we may update this Privacy Policy. We’ll notify you of any changes by:
• Posting the updated policy within our services
• Sending an email or in-app message, where applicable
We encourage you to periodically review this policy to stay informed.
I. Consent to Data Processing
By using our services, you give consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy.
If you're outside the United States, please note that your data will be processed in accordance with U.S. privacy laws.
J. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, feel free to contact us at:
Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative Email: contact@smec.coop Phone: 256-638-2153 P.O. Box 277
Rainsville, AL 35986
Adopted: 09/23/2025