Our Commitment to Protecting your Privacy

FortisBC collects, uses and discloses personal information about customers to enable us to establish and manage the relationship necessary to provide electricity related services to you. Like you, we believe privacy is important. While FortisBC has always valued the personal information shared with us by our customers, legislation is in place that governs how personal information must be managed and protected. FortisBC is committed to complying with the legislation. We want you to understand why we collect your information, why we use your information, and how we protect your information.

What is Personal Information?

Personal information is information about an identifiable individual, and includes but is not limited to:

    1. Your contact information, such as your name, address, telephone number, identification or personal email address;
    2. Your transaction history with us for any services. This could include your billing and payment history, rate and consumption history, meter and premise information, trouble calls, customer service inquiries, requests for information or contest and special offer entries;
    3. Your financial and credit history

Personal information does not typically include business contact information, such as any information that is provided on a business card. This includes an individual's name, business title, business address, business phone and fax numbers.

We may collect personal information about you directly from you over the telephone, in person or via email, or from our affiliates and business partners.

Why Does FortisBC Collect, Use and Disclose Personal Information?

We collect, use and disclose personal information about you in order to provide electricity related services to you and to conduct business with you. We also endeavor to collect only the information we require for those purposes. Some examples of why we collect and use your personal information are:

    1. To create and maintain a professional business relationship with you;
    2. To provide ongoing electricity related services to you;
    3. To develop and improve the services we offer to you;
    4. To understand your needs and preferences;
    5. For credit and collection purposes;
    6. To avoid fraud and identity theft;
    7. To manage your inquiries; and
    8. To meet regulatory and other legal requirements.

Updating Your Personal Information

It is important that the information contained in our records is accurate and up to date. Should your personal information change during the course of our business relationship, please contact us at 1-866-4FORTIS (1-866-436-7847) to inform us of the changes.

Does FortisBC Share Your Personal Information?

Yes, we do share your personal information, but only where permitted by law or for the purposes it was collected as set out above. Examples may be:

    1. Among the business units of FortisBC in order to continue to provide services to you;
    2. With a company or an individual employed by FortisBC to carry out business functions on our behalf;
    3. With a government agency, credit reporting agency, court or law enforcement organization, in accordance with applicable laws and requirements;
    4. With a legal representative if that representative is seeking information on your behalf;
    5. With a public authority if it is reasonable to believe that there is imminent danger to life or property; or
    6. With organizations or individuals to whom a customer has turned to resolve an issue with FortisBC.

If you wish us to communicate with other parties regarding your account please provide us with written consent to allow us to deal specifically with that party on matters regarding your account.

Does FortisBC Protect Your Personal Information?

Yes, we protect your personal information. FortisBC values your right to privacy and endeavours to ensure that the information you share with us is protected. We endeavour to:

    1. not collect, use or disclose your personal information for any purpose other than that for which it was collected.
    2. protect your information, in both electronic and paper format, with appropriate safeguards.
    3. reinforce the confidentiality of your personal information when conducting business externally.
    4. keep your personal information as accurate and up to date as possible for our business purposes.
    5. grant access to you to review your personal information as permitted by law.

Do You Have Any Choices?

Yes, you have choices; you may withdraw your consent for us to collect, use or disclose your personal information at any time subject to reasonable notice and legal or contractual restrictions. However, if you do this, it may limit us or prevent us from providing services to you. Unless you advise us otherwise, we assume that we have your consent to collect, use and disclose your personal information as described above. You can contact us at 1-866-4FORTIS (1-866-436-7847) or email us at privacyofficer@fortisbc.com to withdraw consent.

If you wish to access your personal information we ask that you do so in writing. Please call 1-866-4FORTIS (1-866-436-7847) or email us at privacyofficer@fortisbc.com for instructions and contact information.

You may contact FortisBC through the above means or at the following address if you have any questions about our privacy policies and practices.

FortisBC Inc.
Suite 100, 1975 Springfield Road
Kelowna, British Columbia
Canada V1Y 7V7

It is FortisBC’s policy to comply with personal information protection legislation. This privacy commitment applies only to our activities that are subject to applicable federal or provincial personal information protection legislation. This privacy commitment is subject to FortisBC's privacy policies and practices, and is not intended to replace or modify the same, or to create new rights or obligations not contained in such policies or practices.