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Collective Energy

Terms of Use for the Collective Energy Campaign

Hydro-Québec welcomes you to the CollectiveEnergy.ca website (the “Site”). This Site is intended for the consultation on the Collective Energy Campaign and its three key areas: the green economy, sustainable mobility, and responsible energy use. The responses obtained in the context of this consultation will be used to inform projects carried out by Hydro-Québec.

We ask that you read the Terms of Use for the Collective Energy Campaign (the “Terms of Use”) closely before continuing to browse the Site.

By continuing to browse, you expressly accept the Terms of Use. They constitute an agreement between you and Hydro-Québec regarding access to and use of the Site. The Site’s content can be modified at any time without notice. Therefore, it is advisable to consult it regularly.

If you do not agree with the Terms of Use, you must immediately stop browsing.

Using the Site

The Site provides information at no cost. It is intended for personal use and must be used in accordance with applicable legislation and the Terms of Use.

The actions listed below are strictly prohibited, either directly or indirectly, by any means whatsoever:

- using the Site and its contents for commercial purposes without first obtaining consent from Hydro-Québec;

- using the Site for illegal purposes;

- causing computer-related disruptions to or decoding the Site

- compromising the security of the Site.

- Regarding the discussions held or interviews conducted through the Site with Hydro-Québec employees and other users, they must be done respectfully. Hydro-Québec shall not be held liable for violations committed by users of the Site. In addition to the rules set out on the Netiquette page, the following restrictions apply to all users. As such, it is strictly prohibited to:

- harass Hydro-Québec employees or other users;

- steal another person’s identity (username and password) in order to use the Site;

- distribute hateful, defamatory, threatening or obscene messages or documents;

- jeopardize the privacy or reputation of others.

Applicable legislation

The Terms of Use are governed by the legislation applicable in Québec. Any litigation or dispute pertaining to them is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of that province, in the district of Montreal.

Limitation of liability

Limitation regarding content and features

The Site, its content and its features are provided “as is.” Hydro-Québec takes reasonable steps to keep it up to date. However, errors, omissions and inaccuracies can slip in. Hydro-Québec assumes no liability for them.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is understood that Hydro-Québec provides no guarantees as to the following:

- the accuracy, timeliness and completeness of the content;

- the compatibility on the Site with users’ computer devices or systems;

- operation that is secure and free of interruption, delay, omission or loss of information, failure, contamination or damage for users’ computer systems;

- the Site’s relevance to users’ needs and expectations.

To be able to use the Site, you may be required to equip your computer devices and systems with security software or devices, at your own expense.

Hydro-Québec shall not be liable for any damage or disruption caused by the use, interruption, inaccessibility or non-operation of the Site.

Limitation regarding hyperlinks

The Site contains hyperlinks to third-party websites. The content of those sites, the links appearing on them, the modifications made to them, and the products or services provided on those sites are in no way approved, controlled or authorized by Hydro-Québec. The latter shall not be liable for, among other things:

- the accuracy of the content, products or services distributed on third-party sites;

- the presence of unauthorized hyperlinks on the Site;

- compatibility problems that third-party sites have with your computer devices and systems;

- contamination by computer viruses that result from using third-party sites or insufficient data protection on those sites;

- the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information on those sites.

Hydro-Québec can modify, add or delete the hyperlinks posted on the Site at any time.

Intellectual property

Hydro-Québec’s name and logo are trademarks of Hydro-Québec. Unless otherwise expressly stipulated, the Site’s content is also the property of Hydro-Québec, including the texts, RSS feeds, drawings, graphics, images, illustrations, photos and videos, and is protected by copyright. If you wish to use, copy, translate, publish or distribute them, you must first obtain written permission from Hydro-Québec.

By posting content on the Site or by filling out a Hydro-Québec form, you authorize the company to use and distribute that content, at no cost and for all practical purposes, except for any personal information.

Confidentiality

The Terms of Use explain our practices regarding the personal information that we collect in the specific context of your use of the Site.

If you would like to know more about our privacy practices, for example about the retention and destruction of your personal information, we encourage you to read Our Commitment to Your Privacy.

In the event of a conflict between that document and these Terms of Use regarding our privacy practices, the former shall prevail.

Communication with Hydro-Québec, chat and email

Hydro-Québec makes various means available to you on the Site for communicating with it in a secure way.

If you contact Hydro-Québec by email, you do so voluntarily. You must then provide your name and email address and write your message in the space provided in the electronic form available on the Contact Us page. You can also contact Hydro-Québec by using Facebook’s “Messenger” tool.

Since no email communication is fully secure, we ask that you not send us any additional personal information in your messages when communicating with Hydro-Québec using any of these methods.

Use of the information

In keeping with Our Commitment to Your Privacy, Hydro-Québec undertakes to collect only the personal information required for the purpose for which it was collected from you. In the specific context of the Site, your personal information can be used for the following purposes:

- to offer you our products and services;

- to send information to you that is of interest to you;

- to carry out studies, analyses and marketing activities;

- to run contests or carry out surveys;

- to reply to your questions and comments, including those you may share with us via chat.

Email newsletters and offers

The personal information collected to subscribe to a newsletter, including email address, first name, last name, language, postal code and areas of interest, is used exclusively to send you the newsletter to which you have subscribed. If you no longer wish to receive a newsletter, you can click the Unsubscribe link.

Surveys

Surveys are a form of communication between a company and its customers. We use them in order to better understand the experience of our Site’s users and our interactions in the context of the Collective Energy campaign. Participation in surveys is completely voluntary.

The analysis of the data from those surveys excludes any personal information about the respondents, making the exercise completely anonymous. However, with some surveys, we may ask for your permission to call you back. You then have the right to refuse.

Communication security and internet browsing

When you browse the Internet, your browser detects whether the communication is adequately protected and displays a PADLOCK symbol on the page to confirm that the communication session is secure.

We use the most secure encryption protocols on the market. Therefore, all browsing data is protected through effective cryptographic means, thus protecting the confidentiality of your information.

We have also adopted other technological, physical and organizational security measures, as set out in Our Commitment to Your Privacy.

Access, retention and exercising your rights

For more information about the people who can access your personal information, the retention period, and exercising your rights with respect to your information, please read Our Commitment to Your Privacy.

Modifications and updates

These Terms of Use can be modified from time to time by Hydro-Québec. The date of the update indicates when they were last modified. Therefore, you must read the latest version of these Terms of Use in order to find out what has changed. By browsing the Site, you accept the modifications that have been made to the Terms of Use, if any.

Last updated: April 9, 2021

Previous version:

Privacy Policy for the Collective Energy Campaign

What does this policy apply to?

This Privacy Policy (the “Policy”) explains the practices of Hydro-Québec (“Hydro-Québec”, “our”, “we”) pertaining to the personal information that our agent, lg2 (“our agent”), collects for us in the context of your interaction with the www.CollectiveEnergy.ca website (the “Site”).

This Site is intended for the consultation on the Collective Energy Campaign and its three priorities: the green economy, sustainable mobility and responsible energy use. The responses obtained in the context of this consultation will be used to inspire the rollout of projects by Hydro-Québec.

However, this Policy does not apply to other websites that you may consult or use, including through the hyperlinks provided on our Site, including other Hydro-Québec websites. The information collected or sent is then subject to the privacy policy of those external sites. It is your responsibility to ensure that your personal information is protected.

If you would like to know more about our privacy practices, for example about the retention, use and destruction of your personal information, we encourage you to read Our Commitment to Your Privacy. Our agent is required to provide that same commitment and will not be able to use the collected data for other purposes. In the event of a conflict between that commitment and this Policy regarding our privacy practices, the former shall prevail.

What personal information do we collect?

The information we can collect when you browse the Site is as follows:

- your first name;

- your region;

- your sex;

- your age group;

- your email address.

Participation in the consultation that we offer on the Site is completely voluntary, and the analysis of the data from the consultation excludes any personal information about respondents, making the exercise completely anonymous. Specifically, the data collected in the context of the consultation will be used solely for statistical purposes in order to analyze the consultation results. However, we may ask you for permission to contact you (or have our Agent contact you) using your email address, in which case you have the right to refuse.

We also collect information about you via the interaction between your device (computer, tablet or phone) and our Site. For more information, see the section called Why Do We Use Cookies and Web Beacons?

How is your personal information collected?

Your personal information is collected through various means, including:

- through the form to register for our communications;

- when you contact us;

- when you share your ideas;

- through cookies and web beacons (“cookies”).

How do we use your personal information?

In keeping with Our Commitment to Your Privacy, Hydro-Québec undertakes to collect only the personal information required for the purpose for which it was collected from you. In the specific context of the Site, your personal information can be used for the following purposes:

- to send communications to you about the consultation results, to keep you informed of the progress of the three major priorities and Hydro-Québec projects that will be developed, if you consented to receive such communications;

- to contact you about the idea you submitted and, if it has been selected, to share the idea that you submitted, if you agreed to do so;

Any other purpose that we identify from time to time and that is authorized by law.

Why do we use cookies and web beacons?

Our Site uses cookies and web beacons (collectively, “cookies”) for various purposes. In general, they enable us to collect or memorize certain information when you browse our Site. Only the cookie issuer is able to read that cookie. You can obtain information about cookies at www.allaboutcookies.org.

Essential and functional cookies. Essential and functional cookies are automatically placed on your device (computer, tablet or phone). They are generated by our Site and enable us to manage and optimize the presentation of our Site’s content based on your browsing customization (language) and to memorize certain information previously entered. Most browsers are initially programmed to accept cookies. However, the “help” feature at the top of the task bar of most browsers will tell you how to manage the acceptance of those cookies and/or how to completely disable them. However, it is not recommended to refuse cookies that are essential for using certain features, such as filling out forms. For details about changing your browser’s settings, we encourage you to visit the help center for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge or Opera.

Analytical cookies.

We also use analytical cookies. These cookies enable us to collect the following information:

- some information associated with your IP address;

- your Internet service provider;

- the date and time of the start and end of the visit to our Site;

- the region or municipality, based on your IP address;

- the type and version of your Internet browser;

- the type and version of your device’s operating system;

- the screen resolution of your device;

- the language of your Internet browser;

- the type and model of your device (computer, tablet or phone);

- the URL of the pages visited on our Site;

- your activities (click, scroll) on our Site;

- the domain name of the previous site visited;

- the launch point (banner, email, social media, print publication, advertiser’s website) of your visit to our Site.

To obtain various metrics regarding the use and performance of our Site, to determine statistics and traffic volumes for its content, we use Google Analytics. This information is anonymous and stored by Google LLC (“Google”) on servers that may be located outside Canada, including the United States. You can download the browser add-on to disable Google Analytics.

Advertising cookies.

It you consent to it, third parties, such as Google Display Network or other media partners, can also place advertising cookies on our Site in order to determine your interests through the content viewed on our Site and thereby personalize the advertisements displayed on our Site or outside it. If applicable, you can disable the cookies of companies participating in the AdChoices program by the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada.

Sharing cookies.

Our Site can also use sharing cookies if you consent to it. These cookies enable us to add to our Site features for sharing content on social media, including Facebook. Using the share buttons will install a cookie for linking the content viewed on our Site to your user account for those media. To disable the Facebook pixel (if applicable), we encourage you to visit the Facebook help centre.

How do we protect the confidentiality of your personal information?

When you browse our Site, your browser detects whether the communication is adequately protected and displays a PADLOCK symbol on the page to confirm that the communication session is secure.

Our Site uses the most secure encryption protocols on the market. Therefore, all browsing data is protected through effective cryptographic means, thus protecting the confidentiality of your information.

We have also adopted other technological, physical and organizational security measures, as set out in Our Commitment to Your Privacy.

Other questions?

Access, retention and exercising your rights. For more information about the people who can access your personal information, the retention period and the exercise of your rights with respect to your information, please read Our Commitment to Your Privacy.

Policy updates. This Policy can be modified from time to time by Hydro-Québec. The date of the update indicates when it was last modified. Therefore, you must read the latest version of this Policy in order to find out what has changed. By browsing the Site, you accept any changes that have been made to the Policy, if any.

Last updated: April 9, 2021