Respect for Your Privacy
Houston County Electric Cooperative, Inc. (“HCEC” or “Cooperative”) respects the privacy of its members and of visitors to its various online platforms, including houstoncountyelec.com (the “Website”). In addition to HCEC’s Member Policy 1.20 Member Information and Privacy, this Online Privacy Statement explains the treatment of personal information collected through HCEC’s online platforms, including the Website and mobile applications such as MyHCEC. All use of HCEC’s online platforms, and associated services, are subject to this Online Privacy Statement.
Information Collected
Personal Information: HCEC obtains personal information concerning you based on how you interact with HCEC through its online platforms, including, but not limited to, when you contact HCEC with inquiries, register for an online account, use HCEC’s online bill payment services, complete member surveys through HCEC’s Website, or use HCEC’s online employment application services. By accessing HCEC’s online platforms, and/or associated services (including when applying for employment through HCEC’s Website), you are consenting to HCEC’s use of your personal information in accordance with this Online Privacy Statement and the Website’s Terms of Use.
Personal information also includes any username or password selected or assigned to you when you interact with HCEC’s online platforms. You should keep any such username and password confidential. If you believe that an unauthorized person may have learned your password or accessed your account, please contact HCEC by using any of the contact methods below.
Non-Identifiable Information: When you interact with HCEC through its online platforms, HCEC may receive or generate non-identifiable information, such as the date and time you accessed the online platform, the pages you viewed on the online platform, how you used the online platform, the type of browser and operating system used to access the online platform, and/or whether you linked from another website and, if so, the URL of the referring website. Typically, such information is collected passively. For example, HCEC may collect this information using log files, cookies, pixel tracking, ad tracking, or similar technologies. HCEC may store non-identifiable information, or it may be provided to, or maintained by, its affiliates, agents, or service providers. HCEC uses this information to improve the functionality of the online platform and any associated services.
Location Information
Certain applications on mobile devices, such as MyHCEC, may transmit information to HCEC about your location. An example is the inclusion of your physical location when you report an outage using your mobile device. HCEC may use that information to improve the services provided or for the development of new services.
Analytics
HCEC may use analytics tools from various social media platforms that uses non-identifiable information to show HCEC how users engage with those platforms. To learn more, review your individual privacy settings located within your social media account(s).
Security
HCEC strives to maintain personal information with commercially reasonable and appropriate technical, administrative, and physical safeguards that strive to protect against loss, unauthorized access, destruction, misuse, modification, and improper disclosure.
How Personal Information is Used
HCEC uses personal information as necessary to conduct HCEC business and for the original intended purpose, or other purpose as explicitly authorized by law. This includes, but is not limited to, billing, collecting payments, conducting authorized credit assessments, reporting bad debt, contacting customers, resolving concerns, providing or improving HCEC’s online platforms and associated services, marketing, and meeting legal concerns or obligations. In addition, if personal information is provided for a specific reason, HCEC may use the personal information in connection with the reason for which it was provided. For instance, if you contact HCEC with an inquiry, the personal information you provide will be used to answer your question or resolve your concern.
HCEC may share your personal information with authorized business partners necessary to assist in carrying out HCEC business without further notice to you. HCEC may also use other companies to perform certain business-related functions in connection with the Website, mobile applications, and associated services. Examples include electronic mailing services, maintaining databases, and processing payments. When HCEC engages another company to perform a function of this nature, your personal information may be provided for them to perform that function; however, as a general matter, HCEC does not provide email addresses or other personal information to any third parties for the marketing of the third parties’ goods or services without your consent. In addition, HCEC does not sell, rent, loan, or exchange your personal information except as allowed according to HCEC’s Board Policy.
HCEC may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law or to (1) comply with a legal obligation, (2) protect and defend HCEC’s rights or property, (3) act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of the Website or the public, or (4) protect against HCEC’s legal liability.
Opt-Out Option
HCEC may use your personal information to send email, telephone, or text message communications related to your service or HCEC business, unless you opt out. To opt out of this communication, you must either contact HCEC (using any of the contact methods below) or follow any opt-out instructions sent with the initial communication.
Links to Other Websites
HCEC’s Website and mobile applications may contain links to other websites that are not owned or controlled by HCEC. Also, you may have linked to HCEC’s Website from another website that is not owned or controlled by HCEC. Be aware that HCEC is not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites, and this Online Privacy Statement applies only to information collected through HCEC’s Website, mobile applications, or in connection with any associated services. You should carefully review the privacy practices of any third-party website before providing such website with any personal information.
Social Media Platforms
HCEC may interact with registered users of various social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Any content you post to such social media platforms (e.g., pictures, information, or opinions), as well as any personal information that you otherwise make available to users (including without limitation, your profile), is subject to the applicable social media platform’s terms of use and privacy policies. HCEC recommends that you review this information carefully to better understand your rights and obligations regarding such content. In addition, HCEC reserves the right to block, delete, or edit posts on its social media platforms where such posts are determined by HCEC to be inappropriate, unprofessional, offensive, or otherwise in violation of HCEC’s policies.
Children’s Privacy
While HCEC’s Website contains energy-related information and information that may be of educational value to children, no personal information is required for you to use those features. HCEC does not knowingly permit persons under the age of 13 to register or provide personal information through the Website, and the provision of personal information by children through the Website is strictly prohibited. HCEC encourages parents to supervise and participate in their children’s internet activities, and children are urged to exercise caution and consult their parents before providing any personal information to any website on the internet.
Changes to This Privacy Statement
It may be necessary for HCEC to make changes to this Online Privacy Statement from time to time, to reflect changes to the Website or associated services, technology, or legal requirements and guidelines. HCEC reserves the right to update or modify this Online Privacy Statement (on a prospective basis) without prior notice to you. You are encouraged to review this Privacy Statement before you provide any personal information.
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your personal information or privacy-related issues, you can contact HCEC via any of the methods listed directly below:
Mail:
Houston County Electric Cooperative
Attn: Member Services
P.O. Box 52
Crockett, TX 75835
Email:
Phone:
936-544-5641
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Revised: August 2026