Privacy Policy
Energy Share of Montana (ESoM) has created this Privacy Policy to explain why we collect particular information and how we will protect your personal privacy. This includes information we collect both within our Website and offline through such methods as mail and telephone. ESoM reserves the right at any time and without notice to change this Privacy Policy simply by posting such changes on our Site. Any such change will be effective immediately upon posting. This policy is effective from August 15, 2018.
ESoM maintains internal lists of donors, applicants and contacts. Because your physical mail and e-mail addresses are confidential, we never share these lists with outside parties, and only key ESoM personnel and certain technical contractors are allowed access to the areas of the computer systems in which we store our lists. Lists are accessed only for the purpose of upgrading our computer systems or distributing ESoM newsletters, publicity campaigns, alerts, correspondence, notifications, or other professional communications that help us accomplish our mission as a nonprofit organization.
Owner of Website
This is the website of ESoM.
Our postal address is: 3117 Cooney Drive Suite 102, Helena, MT 59602.
Visitors to the Website and Website Security
The ESoM website collects information about each visitor to our website in these ways:
- Through your IP address
- Through cookies
- Through online forms
- Through any correspondence you send us via mail to our online posted mailing address, our online listed emails, and through other forms not associated with the database. Detail about these methods of information collection follows:
IP Addresses
Your IP address does not reveal any personal information about you or your activities. Our web server host logs all IP addresses of all visitors to automate information collection concerning web traffic, usage, length of time visitors stayed, new visitors, entry and exit points, and the like. It is also used as statistical information for reporting and to find ways to improve web usability.
Cookies
We use “cookies” and other technologies to enhance your online experience. A “cookie” can be either permanent (i.e., it remains on your computer until you delete it) or temporary (i.e., it lasts only until you close your browser). A “cookie” is a small text file that helps us recognize repeat visitors, facilitate the visitor’s ongoing access to and use of the web site, and track usage behavior and compile aggregate data that can lead to website improvements. Cookies may also help us customize certain content on the website. Cookies and other similar technologies collect non-personal information about the user of a particular IP address or computer. If you do not want your information collected through the use of cookies, you can turn off the cookie feature using a simple procedure available in most browsers. If you block cookies, however, you may lose some website functionality.
Online Forms
No information collected when online forms are filled out is shared with third parties.
Correspondence
None of your contact information or any of your correspondence that you send via regular mail, online through forms, through email, or any other means is ever sold to third parties under any circumstances, and is used only to conduct our daily business in accomplishing our mission under our policies as a nonprofit entity.
ESOM Sharing Practices
None of the information we collect is shared with any third party except for capturing and defining web traffic patterns and website improvement.
If you send us questions about our website content or any of our areas of operation, we may forward your request for information to parties who would be able to assist you, or we may respond to you with that information in kind. You may at any time request us not to do so, and we will comply with that request, except as we are required by legal regulations or a court order to do so. It is unlikely we will contact you for verification, but we reserve the right to do so, should it become necessary. If you contact us by email or phone, we may ask you to verify your personal information so that we may respond to your inquiry with an assurance of your identity.
Client Information
We do not collect any information on Energy Share clients on our website unless the client visits our website. In that case, we collect the same non-personally identifiable information as is collected for any other visitor to our website. If the client uses an online form, all the same policies apply to the client as to any other website visitor.
As far as phone calls or emails from clients or potential clients, we will only share essential information about your case that might be helpful in getting resources to meet your personal needs. Any information shared with other agencies, including but not limited to utility companies, will be given without discrimination and with respect for your rights. Your information will not be shared with any other parties or for any other purpose.
Opt In/Opt Out of ESOM eNews
Sign up for ESoM annual newsletter (sent only once a year) by marking the box on the Contact Us form and providing your name and mailing address. Once you are part of our contact/ distribution lists, you can opt out any time you like by contacting ESOM by email or by calling 406-442-4900.
Third Party Payment Processing
We use a third party payment processor, Paypal, to process financial donations. When you make donations to ESoM, we may transfer certain information (including personally identifying information) to Paypal for the sole purpose of facilitating the financial transaction, such as your name, address, and credit card and/or bank information.
Security Online
If you choose to donate online through our website, that transaction will occur through the use of Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS) encryption. SSL/TLS is a generally accepted protocol that encrypts all communication between your web browser and the site you are visiting to prevent third parties from eavesdropping or tampering with your donation and payment information. Common browsers, such as Internet Explorer, make it obvious when information is being passed in a secure manner by using the prefix https:// in the URL or displaying a padlock somewhere in the browser window.
Your Choice to Opt Out
If you no longer wish to receive ESoM communications, you may opt out of receiving such communications by calling 406-442-4900.
Legally Mandated Disclosures
Though we make every effort to preserve donor and customer privacy, we may need to disclose personal information when we have a good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a current judicial proceeding, a court order or legal process served on our organization.
Links to Other Websites
ESoM has a page on our website listing links to other websites. Although we work hard to make sure we are linking to appropriate sites, and take full responsibility for the content of our site and our own privacy policy, we are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of sites to which we link.
Corrections to Personal Information
If your personal or your organization’s information needs to be updated, please contact ESoM by calling 406-442-4900 or e-mailing contactus@energysharemt.com.
Contacting Us
If you believe that your personal and/or private information is being used for a purpose other than its intended purpose, or if you have any questions about our Privacy Policy or the practices of our site, contact ESoM at 406-442-4900 or contactus@energysharemt.com, and ESoM staff will address it immediately.
Updated 7/16/18