Multiple parties use the Utility Connect network. Liander, Stedin and Westland Infra Netbeheer made a strategic decision to use our services. The network is also open to other closed user groups that require long-term availability of high-quality, reliable, secure and mission-critical and specifically narrowband machine-to-machine data communication services. If you would like to recieve more information regarding our network, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Utility Connect privacy statement
Utility Connect takes your privacy very seriously. Whenever we process your personal data, we do so in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation and the Dutch legislation implementing this EU regulation in the Netherlands. Read on to find out how.
What Utility Connect does
Utility Connect provides wireless data communications over its network, which is particularly suitable for (but not limited to) machine-to-machine applications of essential public and semi-public services. Utility Connect is a joint venture of Alliander and Stedin.
When we process your personal data
Utility Connect processes your personal data if:
- you are a customer and request information as a customer;
- you visit our website;
- you are a supplier to Utility Connect;
- you register as a visitor at one of our sites;
- you are a landlord or represent one;
- you otherwise collaborate with us, and we will use your personal data to be able to contact you.
Data processing purposes
To record contact details to be able to enter into and perform contracts and other forms of collaboration. These contact details are used for the following purposes:
- contact on outages;
- regular maintenance on our sites;
- to notify you of changes;
- projects;
- invoicing;
- quote requests;
- site acquisition;
- landlord satisfaction survey;
- network optimisation*.
Data categories
Utility Connect processes different categories of personal data. The processing of personal data is always tied to a specific purpose.
| Category | Purpose |
| Name, address and contact details | Utility Connect processes name, address and contact details:
- to enter into and perform contracts; - for correspondence purposes; - for visitor administration at our sites; - for access to our sites and site security. |
| Contractual and financial details | To perform contracts for services and/or products and associated invoicing and crediting.
Examples include international bank account number (IBAN), (trade) name and VAT registration number. |
Retention periods
Depending on the nature of the data, different retention periods apply. Wherever data is subject to a statutory retention period, Utility Connect shall abide by it. Utility Connect’s privacy policy specifies all other retention periods.
Data processors
Utility Connect may engage a third party to provide a certain service that includes this third party having access to or processing your personal data. Such third parties are then considered to be the processor of your personal data. They will only be allowed to process the personal data for the purpose we have specified. Utility Connect has taken all the required contractual and organisational measures to ensure that these third parties process the personal data solely for the agreed purposes. Utility Connect engages the following parties as processor:
- Contractors involved in providing our network services on our behalf. Contact details will be shared with these parties only if necessitated by an outage, preventive/regular maintenance, or another situation, so that the contractor can contact you promptly.
- Our IT service provider that provides the applications and infrastructure used for personal data storage. This party has access to your personal data on account of their duty to manage these systems, but they are not authorised to use your personal data.
Consent
Utility Connect processes your personal data solely based on the lawful bases for processing specified in the GDPR. This means that Utility Connect processes personal data solely for the performance of contracts and based on consent given. If we process personal data based on your consent, you always have the right to withdraw your consent.
Protection of your data
When it comes to protecting personal data, Utility Connect has taken appropriate technical and organisational measures. We have set up our infrastructure and procedures in a way that enables us to ensure optimum protection of your personal data. The measures taken are aligned with the nature of the data and what is technically possible and feasible. We keep records of all personal data processing operations.
Access to your data
Only employees who need access to your data for the performance of their job will have access to your data. Which of our employees are granted access to your data is laid down in authorisations and user profiles. On a periodic basis and at least once a year, we evaluate these authorisations and user profiles and update them as necessary.
Transmission of personal data over Utility Connect’s telecommunications networks
You are personally responsible for privacy measures around personal data that you send over Utility Connect’s telecommunications networks. Utility Connect cannot access data you send and does not store this data. If you have specific information security requirements for the telecommunications services you use, please get in touch with your contact at Utility Connect.
Transfer outside the European Union
Utility Connect processes your personal data within the European Union (EU). If necessary, Utility Connect may engage a processor based outside the EU to process personal data. This will always be done in accordance with the relevant rules set by the EU. Whenever we transfer personal data outside the EU, we always use the EU Standard Contractual Clauses. The level of privacy protection is then comparable to if the data were processed in the EU.
Data subject rights
If we process your personal data, the GDPR gives you the right to ask us for access to your personal data. You may also ask us to rectify, complete or delete your personal data, or object to the processing or have the processing restricted. And finally, you can request that we transfer any personal data we have on file for you to you or to an organisation of your choosing. To the extent that this is possible within the legal frameworks, and to the extent that personal data is indeed processed, we will grant your requests.
If you have any questions about privacy, please contact your regular contact at Utility Connect or send an email to info@utilityconnect.nl.
Complaints
If you have any complaints about how to exercise your rights or if you suspect that your personal data has been processed unlawfully by Utility Connect or one of its processors, please contact Utility Connect’s Privacy Officer.
If you are unable to work it out with the Privacy Officer, you can contact the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens).
Changes to the privacy statement
Although the main elements of the privacy statement will remain unchanged, we reserve the right to make changes to this privacy statement, always in compliance with privacy legislation. We therefore recommend that you check it now and again to stay up to date with our privacy policy.
Copyright April 2020 Utility Connect B.V.