December 16, 2020
Hilton Head Public Service District (the “PSD”) recognizes that customers of the PSD are concerned about the information they provide to us or that may be collected and how we treat that information. Therefore, the PSD requests that you read this Privacy Protection Policy (this “Policy”) carefully as it has been developed to inform you about the PSD’s information collection, usage, and disclosure practices.
Types of Information Collected:
In connection with your utility service account, and via our www.hhpsd.com website, we may collect both personally identifiable information and non-personal information from you.
- Personally-identifiable information. Personally-identifiable information (such as: name, address, telephone number, social security number, email address, and billing information, including credit card number and/or bank account information) is collected when a customer signs up for our utility services. The personal information collected during this process is used to manage each customer’s account and as more fully set forth below.
- Non-personal information. Non-personal information, such as which pages on the website are accessed, what information is downloaded or requested, and other information of a general type may be collected from visitors to the website. This information does not allow us to personally identify a visitor to the website.
How Information is Collected:
Personally-identifiable information is submitted when you open an account or when you send us an email, for example. Non-personal information may be collected via website software such as the internet protocol address of the computer through which you are connected to the internet or via “cookies” (small text files on your computer’s hard drive) or other technology. All the information that is automatically collected is anonymous.
How We Use Your Information:
The PSD will not collect, use, or disclose to a third party your personally-identifiable information without your consent. However, there may be circumstances where the PSD infers that you have given consent for the purposes for which the information was provided. For instance, if you sign up for an account with us, then we use your personally-identifiable information to maintain your account and correspond with you. We may also use it to send you materials that we think may be of interest to you. We may use non-personal information as part of a statistical usage analysis, to improve features and content of our website, and for such other purposes as will assist our business. In addition to the above, the PSD may also use or disclose personal or non-personal information in cases where we believe in good faith that it is necessary to prevent a crime or a financial loss to ourselves or a third party; to protect against misuse or unauthorized use of our website; for public health or safety purposes; or pursuant to a court order, subpoena, or as required by law.
HHPSD’s Commitment to Security:
We have put in place physical, electronic, and managerial measures that we feel are adequate to protect against the loss, misuse, or unauthorized access to your personal information. While we make every effort to ensure the integrity and security of our website and databases, we cannot and do not guarantee that the security measures we have put in place will prevent the interception of information by third-party (“hackers”). For you to use some of the features on our website, you may be required to set up an account password or other similar security measure. If you believe that your password or email address has been compromised, you should change your account with us immediately. Regardless of the measures we have undertaken, no website can protect itself against all eventualities. The PSD will not be held liable and disclaims liability for any injury caused by the disclosure of your personally identifiable information whether by security breach, accident, or inadvertence.
Changes to This Privacy Statement:
Our privacy policy may be changed from time to time. We encourage you to check www.hhpsd.com periodically to review this Policy. Any revisions or changes to this Policy will be posted on our website.
Your Rights:
You have the right to know precisely what personally-identifiable information the PSD has collected about you, as well as the use and disclosure of such information. In addition, you have the right to ensure that your personally-identifiable information is accurate, and where any errors may exist, to have such information corrected immediately. To make a request to review your personally-identifiable information, please contact the PSD as indicated below.
Public Records:
The PSD is governed by the South Carolina public records laws, including the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act and the South Carolina Family Privacy Protection Act. This means that the information we receive and collect from customers, or online, might be disclosed to any person making a public records request or for other purposes permitted by law. Certain types of information (such as electronic payment information) are exempt from disclosure as public records. If you have questions about the South Carolina public records laws, refer to S.C. Code Ann. §§ 30-1-10 et. seq., §§ 30-2-10 et. seq. and §§ 30-4-10 et seq. For purposes of determining whether information is a public record, information sent to us through our website is treated the same as information sent to us by mail or delivered to us in person.
S.C. Family Privacy Protection Act Notice
Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 30-2-50 (B), notice is hereby provided that S.C. Code Ann. § 30-2-50 (A) prohibits a person or private entity from knowingly obtaining or using any personal information obtained from the public records of a public body, such as the PSD, for purposes of commercial solicitation directed to any person in the state of South Carolina.
Notice is further given that S.C. Code Ann. § 30-2-50 (D) specifically provides that any person knowingly obtaining or using public records from a public body, such as the PSD, for purposes of commercial solicitation shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined an amount not to exceed $500 or imprisoned for a term not to exceed one year, or both.
How to Contact Us:
If you have questions, concerns or comments about our Privacy Protection Policy or our information protection practices, please contact us as follows:
Hilton Head Public Service District
Attention: General Manager
P.O. Box 21264
Hilton Head Island, SC 29925
(843) 681-5525
www.hhpsd.com
