Privacy Policy

May 19, 2021

Last Revised: [05/19/21]

This Privacy Policy explains how North Carolina Municipal Utility Services, LLC (“NCMS”, “we” or “us”) collects, uses, and discloses information about you when you access or use our websites and other online services that link to this Privacy Policy (collectively, “Services”), or otherwise interact with us.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make any changes to this Privacy Policy, we will notify you by revising the “Last Revised” date at the top of this Privacy Policy and, in some cases, we may provide you with additional notice (such as by adding a statement to our website homepage or by sending you a notification). We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy whenever you access or use the Services or otherwise interact with us to make sure that you stay informed about our information practices and the choices available to you.

WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?

Information You Provide To Us

We collect information you provide directly to us. For example, we collect information when you participate in any interactive areas or features of the Services, sign up to receive email updates or other notifications (such as text message alerts), or otherwise communicate with us. The types of information we may collect include your name, email address, postal address, phone number, and any other information you choose to provide.

Other Information We Collect When You Use Our Services

When you access or use the Services, we automatically collect certain information about you, including:

Log Information:We collect information related to your access to and use of the Services, such as your Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, your operating system, the type of browser you use, your activity on the Services (such as access times, pages viewed, and links clicked), and the webpage that you visited before navigating to the Services. Device Information: We collect information about the computer or mobile device you use to access the Services, such as the hardware model, operating system and version, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information.

Location Information: We may derive the approximate location of your device from your IP address.

Information Collected by Cookies and Similar Tracking Technologies: We (and our service providers) use various technologies to collect information, including cookies and web beacons. Cookies are small data files stored on your hard drive or in device memory that, among other things, help us to improve the Services and your experience, see which areas or features of the Services are popular, and count visits to the Services. For more information about cookies and how to disable them, please see the YOUR CHOICES section of this Privacy Policy below. Web beacons are small electronic images that may be used on the Services or in emails and that help to deliver cookies, count visits to the Services, monitor user activity on the Services, and understand usage and campaign effectiveness.

HOW DO WE USE THE INFORMATION WE COLLECT?

We use information we collect for the following purposes:

  • to provide, maintain, and improve the Services;
  • to provide you with information you request, and to send you related information, such as notifications and confirmations;
  • to send you newsletters, and to otherwise provide you with news and information that we think will be of interest to you, such as sending you information to keep you informed about various issues, events, resources, promotions, contests, products, and services;
  • to monitor and analyze trends, usage, and activities in connection with the Services;
  • to serve advertisements, on the Services or on other websites or media, based on the information you provide and the actions you take while using the Services;
  • to carry out any other purpose for which the information was collected.

WHAT INFORMATION DO WE SHARE WITH THIRD PARTIES?

We may share information about you as follows or as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy:

  • with vendors, consultants, and other service providers or volunteers who are engaged by or working with us and who need access to such information to carry out work or to perform services on our behalf;
  • when you give us your consent to do so, including when we notify you on the Services that the information you provide will be shared in a particular manner and you provide such information;
  • when we believe in good faith that doing so is reasonably necessary or appropriate to respond to claims or to protect the rights, property, or safety of NCMS, our users, our employees, our volunteers, copyright owners, third parties or the public, including to protect such parties from fraudulent, abusive, inappropriate, or unlawful activity or use of the Services; and

We also may share aggregated or de-identified information with third parties that cannot reasonably be used by such third parties to identify you.

ADVERTISING AND ANALYTICS SERVICES PROVIDED BY OTHERS

We may allow others to provide analytics services and to serve advertisements on our behalf. These entities may use cookies, web beacons, device identifiers, and other technologies to collect information about your use of the Services and other websites, including your IP address, web browser, mobile network information, pages viewed, time spent on pages, links clicked, and conversion information. This information may be used by NCMS and others to, among other things, analyze and track data, determine the popularity of certain content, deliver advertising and content targeted to your interests, and better understand your online activity.

For more information about interest-based ads, or to opt out of having your web browsing information used for behavioral advertising purposes, please visit www.aboutads.info/choices. In addition, your device may include a feature (such as “Limit Ad Tracking” on iOS or “Opt Out of Interest-Based Ads” or “Opt Out of Ads Personalization” on Android) that allows you to opt out of having information collected through certain device applications used for targeted advertising purposes.

YOUR CHOICES

Cookies

Most web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. If you prefer, you can usually choose to set your browser to remove or reject browser cookies. Please note that if you choose to remove or reject browser cookies, such removal or rejection could affect the availability and functionality of the Services.

Promotional Communications

You may “opt out” of receiving promotional communications (such as text messages, email updates, and newsletters) from NCMS by following the instructions in those communications. Please note that we may still send you other types of non-promotional communications, such as those about your use of the Services or any of your activities related to the Services.

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at info@ncmunicipalservices.org.