Customer Privacy
DCE is committed to protecting the privacy of our customers.
You can be sure that all of our data files and online forms are secure and protected. Whether we’re collecting, storing, using or reporting customer information, that will never change.
Read our confidentiality policy here
DCE POLICY # 18-04
Customer Confidentiality
Subject: DCE Customer Confidentiality Policy -- Notice of Accessing, Collecting, Storing, Using, and Disclosing Energy Usage Information
Policy: Desert Community Energy (DCE), its employees, agents, contractors, and affiliates shall maintain the confidentiality of individual customers’ names, service addresses, billing addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, account numbers, and electricity consumption, except where reasonably necessary to conduct DCE’s business or to provide services to customers pursuant to the “Rules Regarding Privacy and Security Protections for Energy Usage Data” issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Examples of reasonably necessary business purposes include but are not limited to when such disclosure is necessary (a) to comply with law, regulation, or court order; (b) to enable DCE to provide service to its customers; (c) to collect unpaid bills; (d) to obtain and provide credit reporting information; (e) to resolve customer disputes or inquiries; (f) to communicate about demand response, energy efficiency, energy management, and conservation programs; or (g) in a situation of imminent threat to life or property. DCE shall not, under any circumstance, disclose customer information for third-party telemarketing, e-mail, or direct mail solicitation. Aggregated data that cannot be traced to specific customers may be released at DCE’s discretion.
Customer data, including individual customer names, addresses, and electric energy usage data, is collected via Southern CA Edison’s metering systems. DCE may share customer data with contractors and vendors for purposes of providing services and operating programs. Contractors and vendors are required to agree to only use customer data for program operational purposes and protect it under the same standards as DCE. DCE maintains customer-specific energy usage and billing information for only as long as is reasonably necessary, typically not more than five years unless otherwise required by law or regulation.
The effective date of this policy is April 16, 2018. Notice of this policy will be provided annually to customers via an on-bill message guiding customers to the most updated version on DCE’s website. Any changes to this policy between notification periods will be communicated on DCE’s website. Previous versions of this policy can be requested via email at [email protected] or by mailed request to the address below.
Customers having questions or concerns regarding the collection, storage, use, or distribution of customer information, or who wish to view, inquire about, or dispute any customer information held by DCE or limit the collection, use, or disclosure of such information, may contact DCE by US mail at 74199 El Paseo, Suite 100, Palm Desert, CA 92260.