Privacy Policy

Overview

This Privacy Policy explains how information about you is collected, used and disclosed by Maine Affordable Energy. This Privacy Policy applies to information we collect when you sign up for SMS alerts, use the websites, mobile sites, and other online services that link to this Privacy Policy (collectively, the “Site”).

We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make changes, we will notify you by revising the date at the top of the policy and, in some cases, we may provide you with additional notice (such as adding a statement to our homepage or sending you an email notification). We encourage you to review the Privacy Policy whenever you access the Site to stay informed about our information practices and the ways you can help protect your privacy.

Information That Is Gathered From Visitors

We collect information you provide directly to us. For example, we may collect information when you send us an email, sign up for SMS alerts, subscribe to receive updates, submit content, sign up to get involved, sign a petition, request information or otherwise communicate with us. The types of information we collect may include your name, mailing address, email address, phone number, credit card information and other information you choose to provide.

Information We Collect Automatically When You Use the Site

When you access or use our Site, we automatically collect information about you, including:

Log Information: We log information about your use of the Site, including the type of browser you use, access times, pages viewed, your IP address and the page you visited before navigating to our Site.

Device Information: We may collect information about the computer or mobile device you use to access our Site, including the hardware model, operating system and version, device identifiers and mobile network information.

Information Collected by Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies: We use various technologies to collect information, and this may include sending cookies to your computer or mobile device. Cookies are small data files stored on your hard drive or in device memory that helps us to improve our Site and your experience, see which areas and features of our Site are popular and count visits. We may also collect information using web beacons (also known as “tracking pixels” or “clear GIFs”). Web beacons are electronic images that may be used in our Site or emails and help deliver cookies, count visits, understand usage and campaign effectiveness and determine whether an email has been opened and acted upon. For more information about cookies, and how to disable them, please see “Your Choices” below.

Information We Collect From Other Sources

We may also obtain information from other sources and combine that with information we collect through our Site. We may also use such information for list matching and other purposes.

Texting Campaigns

When you opt into our text message campaign, we may collect the following types of personal information:

Phone Number: We collect your phone number to send you text messages related to our campaign.

Name: You may choose to provide your name to personalize our text messages.

Location Information: With your consent, we may collect location information to provide you with location-specific content or offers.

Visitor Information

If you have subscribed to one of our services, you may unsubscribe by following the instructions which are included in e-mail that you receive.

You may be able to block cookies via your browser settings but this may prevent you from access to certain features of the website.

Google Ads

Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads. Google’s use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to visitors based on their visit to sites they visit on the Internet. Website visitors may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy.

Use of Information

Maine Affordable Energy maintains strict privacy policies, ensuring that personal information of our users and members is not sold, rented, released, or traded to others without prior consent or legal obligation. We will not provide your contact information to any third party for any commercial uses. 

We may use information about you for various purposes, including to:

Provide, maintain and improve our Site and send you technical notices, updates, security alerts and support and administrative messages;

Provide and deliver the information you request, process donations and transactions and send you related information, including confirmations and receipts,

Respond to your emails, submissions, comments, questions and requests, provide customer service, request feedback, and otherwise contact you about your use of the Site;

Send you newsletters and otherwise provide you with information or services you request or that we think will be of interest to you, such as sending you information to keep you informed about various campaigns, issues, events, resources, or services;

Help connect you with other supporters, and to solicit volunteers, donations and support for Maine Affordable Energy, issues and organizations that we support;

Share your information with third-party service providers who assist us in sending text messages and managing SMS campaigns.

Comply with applicable Federal elections laws and contact you if other information is necessary under such laws;

Monitor and analyze trends, usage and activities in connection with our Site;

Personalize and improve the Site and provide advertisements, content or features that match user profiles or interests or that are based on the information you provide or the actions you take.

Sharing of Information

Personal information provided to Maine Affordable Energy will not be shared without consent or legal obligation. Any information shared with a third party will not be used for marketing, but may be shared for the purposes of conducting essential business operations.

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 need access to such information to carry out work on our behalf;

To report required information to the Federal Elections Commission, including name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employers of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in a election cycle (for additional information, visit the FEC website at http://www.fec.gov);

When we believe in good faith that we are lawfully authorized or required to do so or that doing so is reasonably necessary or appropriate to comply with the law or legal processes or respond to lawful requests, claims or legal authorities, including responding to lawful subpoenas, warrants, or court orders;

If we believe your actions are inconsistent with the spirit or language of our user agreements or policies, or to protect the rights, property and safety of Maine Affordable Energy, its employees, volunteers, constituents or others;

In connection with, or during negotiations of, any reorganization, formation of a successor organization, asset sale or transfer, financing or lending transaction or in any other situation where personal information may be disclosed or transferred as one of the assets of Maine Affordable Energy; and

With your consent or at your direction, including if we notify you through our Site that the information you provide will be shared in a particular manner and you provide such information.

We may also share aggregated or anonymized information that does not directly identify you.

The above excludes text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties, provided that the foregoing does not apply to sharing (1) with vendors, consultants and other service providers who need access to such information to carry out work on our behalf (and who will not use such information for their own purposes); (2) if we believe disclosure is required by any applicable law, rule, or regulation or to comply with law enforcement or legal process; and (3) if the user consents to our sharing of such information.

Online Petitions

If you sign an online petition, you understand that such petition is public information and that we may make the petition, and your name, city, state, and any comments provided in connection therewith publicly available. In addition, we may provide such petitions or compilations thereof, including your comments, name, city, and state to national, state or local leaders, or to the press.

Security

Maine Affordable Energy takes reasonable measures to help protect information about you from loss, theft, misuse and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction.

Your Choices

Unsubscribe from Emails

People who subscribe to e-mail lists via this website will receive periodic updates from Maine Affordable Energy by regular mail, fax and/or e-mail. You may opt out of receiving future information via e-mail by using the unsubscribe procedure specified on the e-mail message.

Opt-Out from Texting

You can opt out of our text message campaign at any time by following the instructions provided in our text messages or by contacting us directly. You may request access to or correction of your personal information by contacting us.

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 cookies, this could affect the availability and functionality of our Site.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please email us at [email protected]