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Your privacy at Utilities Kingston

Our commitment to privacy 

Protecting your privacy is important to us. Utilities Kingston is responsible for protecting the personal information we collect, use, and store — including information shared with service providers working on our behalf. 

Our privacy practices follow federal and Ontario privacy laws and guide how we manage your personal information every day. The Utilities Kingston Privacy Policy is below and provides additional details about these practices.

Privacy policy

To see all the ways we use your information, and for further details on our privacy commitment to you, please visit our privacy policy.

What Is personal information? 

Personal information is any information that can identify you. This includes things like your: 

  • Name, address, phone number, and email address 

  • Date of birth 

  • Banking or billing information 

  • Identification numbers 

  • Employment or education details 

  • Photos or video where you can be identified

How wcollect, use, and share personal information 

We collect personal information only when needed to provide you with services or manage your account. We do not collect, use, or share personal information without your consent, unless allowed by law. 

Why we may need your information 

We may collect personal information to: 

  • Open and manage your utility account 

  • Verify your identity 

  • Set up billing or preauthorized payments 

  • Communicate with you about services, rates, outages, or emergencies 

  • Respond to your questions or requests 

  • Meet legal and regulatory requirements 

We will always explain what information we need and why. For example: 

  • Your name, address, and contact details are needed to open an account 

  • Your mother's maiden name and/or driver’s licence may be used to confirm your identity

  • Your banking information is needed for preauthorized payments 

How long we keep your information 

If you close your account, we keep your information only as long as required by law or business records rules. When it is no longer needed, it is securely destroyed.

Keeping your information safe 

We protect your personal information using physical, administrative, and technical safeguards, including: 

  • Restricted access to systems and files 

  • Passwords and encryption 

  • Staff training 

  • Secure offices and locked filing cabinets 

  • Contract requirements for service providers to protect your information

Keeping your information accurate 

We rely on you to help keep your information current. 

  • You can update your contact or billing information by visiting our office at 85 Lappan’s Lane or contacting Customer Service at 613-546-1181 

  • For other changes or corrections, you must submit a formal request through the Freedom of Information process

Accessing or correcting your personal information 

You have the right to: 

  • Request access to your personal information 

  • Request a correction if you believe information is inaccurate or incomplete 

Requests must be made in writing through the formal Freedom of Information process.

Authority 

Utilities Kingston complies with the privacy protection rules contained in the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).

Privacy complaints 

If you believe we have not handled your personal information properly, you may file a privacy complaint. 

How the complaint process works 

  • Contact our Privacy Officer 

    • By telephone to 613-329-0875 

    • In writing to Privacy Officer, Utilities Kingston, P.O. Box 790, Kingston ON K7L 4X7 

  • We may ask for additional details or proof of identity 

  • We will investigate and share the results with you 

  • If needed, we will take corrective steps, such as improving safeguards or correcting records 

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario or the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Contacts

Utilities Kingston Privacy Officer 

P.O. Box 790, Kingston ON K7L 4X7 

613-329-0875 

Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario 
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400Toronto, ON M4W 1A8 

Phone: 416-326-3333Toll-free: 1-800-387-0073TTY: 416-325-7539 

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada 
30 Victoria StreetGatineau, Quebec K1A 1H3 

Toll-free: 1-800-282-1376Phone: 819-994-5444TTY: 819-994-6591 

More information 

Privacy Policy 

Utilities Kingston is responsible for protecting the personal information in our care. We do this by ensuring that: 

  1. Personal information is collected, used, and shared only as needed to establish and manage our business relationship with you and to deliver services. This may include confirming your identity, understanding service needs, managing billing and payments, collecting overdue accounts, communicating rate changes or service outages, responding to inquiries, recommending services, and meeting legal or regulatory requirements. 

  1. Personal information is collected, used, and shared as permitted  or required by law. 

  1. Your knowledge and consent are obtained before collecting, using or sharing your personal information, except when inappropriate or as permitted by law. 

  1. Your knowledge and consent are obtained before your personal information is used for any reason other than the one originally intended.. 

  1. Your consent is  obtained before collecting personal information from or sharing  with a third party. 

  1. Personal information is protected against loss, theft, and unauthorized access, use, or disclosure through administrative, technical, and physical safeguards. These include access controls, passwords and encryption, staff training, secure facilities, and contractual protections with service providers. 

  1. Personal information is safely destroyed when it’s no longer needed for business or legals reasons.  

  1. Appropriate  efforts are  made to keep personal information accurate and up to date.  

  1. You are provided with a way to access your personal information, request corrections, and challenge its accuracy or completeness. 

  1. You may be notified if a significant privacy breach affects your personal informationas appropriate.