Emergency And Outages

If you are experiencing a power outage in one of the 16 First Nations connected to the provincial grid via the Wataynikaneyap system, call Hydro One Remotes at 1-888-825-8707. Power distribution is the responsibility of Hydro One Remotes. They are prepared to respond 24/7 to outages and other issues.

Wataynikaneyap Power has established a Privacy Policy to inform you about our practices and procedures concerning the collection, usage, and disclosure of your Personal Information. It tells you the ways we ensure that your privacy and the confidentiality of your Personal Information are protected.

Wataynikaneyap Power is a licensed electricity transmission company with the objective of connecting remote First Nation communities in Northwestern Ontario to the province’s transmission grid.

Wataynikaneyap Power values your privacy and we strive to ensure that our customers are aware that their privacy is of the utmost importance to us. This privacy policy applies to the collection, use, and disclosure of Personal Information by Wataynikaneyap Power LP and Wataynikaneyap Power GP Inc. (together with its affiliate service providers, and to the extent feasible, also to consultants, contractors, business partners, and agents, collectively referred to herein as “Wataynikaneyap Power”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) in the course of its interaction with customers, prospective customers, former customers, suppliers, contractors, vendors, website users, and other stakeholders (“you” or your”). This privacy policy informs you about our practices and procedures concerning the collection, use, disclosure, protection, and retention of your Personal Information.

This privacy policy is based on our obligations under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Document Act.

This privacy policy does not create or confer upon any individual any rights, or impose upon Wataynikaneyap Power any obligations outside of, or in addition to, any rights or obligations imposed by applicable Canadian privacy laws.

“Personal Information” means any factual or subjective information, recorded or not, about an identifiable individual and this includes information in any form, such as: age, name, address, phone number, ID numbers, income, billing and consumption records, service and equipment, credit information, or any other relevant information regarding the provision of electrical services.

This privacy policy does not apply to information about business customers who carry on business as corporations, partnerships or other forms of association. However, Wataynikaneyap Power does protect the confidentiality of such information in accordance with the law, including regulatory codes of conduct issued by the Ontario Energy Board, and contractual arrangements.

1. COLLECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

Wataynikaneyap Power shall identify the purposes for which we collect, use and share your Personal Information before or at the time of collection. In addition to the purposes identified in this privacy policy, we may inform you of other purposes from time to time, either in writing or orally.

Upon request, persons collecting Personal Information shall explain the purposes for which your Personal Information is being collected, used, and/or disclosed or refer the individual to a designated person within Wataynikaneyap Power who will explain the purposes for which your Personal Information is being collected, used, and/or disclosed.

We shall limit the collection of Personal Information to that which is necessary for the purposes identified and we shall collect the information by fair and lawful means. The type of information we usually collect and maintain in your customer file may include your name, mailing and local address, e-mail address, telephone number, date of birth, credit history, transaction history driver’s license number. Generally, the type of information we collect and hold about our service providers, business partners, and stakeholders will include your name, mailing and email addresses, telephone number, job title and organization/employer name.

We may collect Personal Information from you in person, at one of our offices, over the telephone, by corresponding with you, including via mail and email, through applications you submit to us or through our website.
We may collect information from third parties such as credit bureaus to manage business and credit risk; collect outstanding debt; detect, prevent, manage, and investigate or protect against fraud or other unauthorized or illegal activity.

2. USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

Wataynikaneyap Power uses your Personal Information for purposes reasonably required to carry out our business. These purposes include to:

  • develop, evaluate, enhance and provide Wataynikaneyap Power services and products including to establish, deliver and maintain electricity services;
  • market and promote our services and products to you including to notify customers about new and existing programs, events, causes or any other matters sponsored by Wataynikaneyap Power;
  • recommend particular products and services to meet customer needs;
  • confirm and authenticate your identity to respond to inquiries, maintain responsible business relationships and partnerships, and ensure that your information is correct and accurate;
  • establish and maintain communication with investors, business partners, and stakeholders;
  • bill, process, and collect payment including for pre-authorized payments;
  • determine eligibility for products and services including performing credit reviews to determine creditworthiness;
  • perform analytics (including by rendering Personal Information anonymous), administer surveys, or request feedback to improve and manage our relationship with you;
  • understand customers’ energy needs, demands, usage, and preferences;
  • establish programs and processes to ensure energy safety, conservation, and efficiency;
  • maintain the safety and security of Wataynikaneyap Power’s operations and facilities;
  • manage and develop Wataynikaneyap Power business and operations;
  • meet legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations; and
  • fulfil other purposes related to any of the above.

Unless required by law, we shall not use or disclose, for any new purpose, Personal Information that has been collected without first identifying and documenting the new purpose.

3. SHARING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

We will share your Personal Information with third parties only in the ways that are described in this privacy policy and other terms included in applications or agreements with you.

Due to the structure of the electricity sector in Ontario, it may be necessary to share your billing and consumption information with third party billing and settlement agencies, such as where you have signed a separate contract with a retailer. Our billing, settlement and regulatory relationships with third parties are governed by our license and regulatory codes that are established by the Ontario Energy Board.

Wataynikaneyap Power may disclose your Personal Information to contractors or other companies and third parties to perform services for Wataynikaneyap Power that involve access to Personal Information. These third parties may be located outside of Ontario or Canada.

If we disclose Personal Information to third parties engaged to perform services for us, Wataynikaneyap Power prohibits the third party from using personal information for any purpose other than the specific purpose for which Wataynikaneyap Power supplies it.

We may also de-identify, aggregate or anonymize information about our customers to identify trends, manage our business, develop statistical information, understand how we are performing, or develop relevant products, services or offers. Such information may also be shared with third parties for other analytical purposes, but will not personally identify any individual and therefore is not subject to our privacy policy.

4. RETENTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

Wataynikaneyap Power shall keep Personal Information only as long as it remains necessary or relevant for the identified purposes, resolve disputes, enforce our agreements or as required by law. Depending on the circumstances, where Personal Information has been used to make a decision about a customer, Wataynikaneyap Power shall retain, for a period of time that is reasonably sufficient to allow for access by the customer, either the actual information or the rationale for making the decision.

We may also retain Personal Information after the end of our business relationship, including to maintain communications with you, understand customer preferences and behaviours, analyze and improve our processes and develop new products and services.

Wataynikaneyap Power shall maintain reasonable controls and practices for information and records retention and destruction which apply to Personal Information that is no longer necessary or relevant for the identified purposes or required by law to be retained. Such information shall be destroyed, erased or made anonymous.

5. CONSENT AND CHOICE

Wataynikaneyap Power shall obtain meaningful consent before or when we collect your Personal Information, except where consent is not required by law.

In obtaining consent, Wataynikaneyap Power will use reasonable efforts to ensure that a customer is advised of the identified purposes for which Personal Information will be used or disclosed. Purposes will be stated in a manner that can be reasonably understood by the customer.

Generally, Wataynikaneyap Power shall seek consent to use and disclose Personal Information at the time we collect your Personal Information. If we identify a new purpose for the Personal Information that we have collected from you, we will obtain your consent before using your personal information for the new purpose.

Further, Wataynikaneyap Power will not use or disclose your Personal Information without your consent except where permitted by law, including where necessary to collect a debt or comply with a court order.

Wataynikaneyap Power will require customers to consent to the collection, use or disclosure of Personal Information as a condition of the supply of a product or service only if such collection, use or disclosure is reasonably required to fulfill the identified purposes. In determining the appropriate form of consent, Wataynikaneyap Power shall take into account the sensitivity of the Personal Information and the reasonable expectations of its customers.

In general, the use of products and services by a customer constitutes implied consent for Wataynikaneyap Power to collect, use and disclose Personal Information for all identified purposes. A customer may withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice. In some situations, Wataynikaneyap Power may continue to collect, use and/or disclose your Personal Information after you have withdrawn consent, such as to collect payment and meet legal or regulatory obligations. In some circumstances, if you withdraw consent, Wataynikaneyap Power may no longer be able to provide you with services or products and/or continue a business relationship.

If you have any questions regarding consent including the implications of withdrawing consent please contact our Privacy Officer.

6. ACCURACY

Wataynikaneyap Power will ensure that Personal information shall be sufficiently accurate, complete, and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it was obtained. While we will do our best to base our decisions involving Personal Information on accurate information, we rely on individuals to disclose all material information and to inform us of any relevant changes to their Personal Information.

7. SAFEGUARDING PERSONAL INFORMATION

Keeping your personal information confidential and secure is a priority for us. Wataynikaneyap Power is accountable for the protection of Personal Information within our possession or control including all Personal Information held by us or transferred to a third party for processing.

Wataynikaneyap Power shall take reasonable steps to protect Personal Information against loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or modification.

Personal information under Wataynikaneyap Power’s control is protected by physical, organizational and technological safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information that has been collected, the amount, distribution and format of the information, and the method of storage.

Wataynikaneyap Power maintains physical security over its premises and also maintains computer and network security. Wataynikaneyap Power requires its employees to respect the confidentiality of any personal information held by Wataynikaneyap Power. Only those employees of Wataynikaneyap Power who require access for business reasons, or whose duties reasonably so require, are granted access to Personal Information.

Please note that our website may contain links to other websites. When you click on a link to another site, you leave the Wataynikaneyap Power site and this privacy policy does not apply to any third party site linked on www.wataypower.ca. If you access such websites, either directly or via the Wataynikaneyap Power site, you should review the privacy policy of each site.

8. ACCESSING OR CORRECTING PERSONAL INFORMATION

You may make a written request to the Privacy Officer for information regarding the type, use and disclosure of Personal Information that Wataynikaneyap Power has in its possession or control. We may require proof of identity prior to providing access to your Personal Information. Wataynikaneyap Power may charge a nominal fee for responding to such request.

Wataynikaneyap Power may refuse to provide you with access to your Personal Information where permitted or required by law or regulatory authorities. If we deny your request for access to your Personal Information, we will advise you in writing of the reason for the refusal. Some examples of the reasons why we may not be able to provide you with access to your Personal Information include, but are not limited to:

  • Where providing access would likely reveal Personal Information about a third party;
  • Where the information cannot be disclosed for legal, security or commercial proprietary reasons; or
  • Where the information is subject to solicitor-client or litigation privilege.

9. USE OF COOKIES

In general, Wataynikaneyap Power does not collect personal information that can identify you when browsing our website. However, certain non-identifying information such as an IP address, cookies, Internet tags and navigational data may be collected. This information is used to improve the content of our website and to enhance the user experience. Specifically, Wataynikaneyap Power uses cookies to track user traffic patterns through its website.

A cookie is a small data file that a website may write to your hard drive when you visit. A cookie file can contain information (such as a user ID) that the website can use to track the pages you have visited and to record your preferences for future visits.

In addition, Wataynikaneyap Power may use third party cookies that track how you use our website in order to target advertisements to you on other websites. You may block cookies by adjusting your internet browser settings, although this may interfere with the functionality of the Wataynikaneyap Power website. For more information on blocking cookies or targeted advertising, visit the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada page at: http://youradchoices.ca/choices/.

10. CONTACT US

If you have questions about our privacy policy or practices, or to request access to or correction of your information, please contact our Privacy Officer at:

Privacy Officer
Wataynikaneyap Power
300 Anemki Place, Suite B
Fort William First Nation, ON, P7J 1H9
Fax: (905) 871-8676
Email: tim.lavoie@fortisontario.com

We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

11. EFFECTIVE DATE AND REVISIONS

This privacy policy is effective as of February 28, 2019.

Wataynikaneyap Power is committed to making information about this privacy policy easy to understand, accessible and updated. Wataynikaneyap Power will review this privacy policy periodically, and may make changes to this privacy policy from time to time, for various reasons including to reflect changes in legal or regulatory obligations or in the manner in which we deal with your Personal Information.

An amended privacy policy will be posted to our website, www.wataypower.ca, when it comes into effect