Texture Connect Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 19, 2024

Texture Connect Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Texture aggregates data from devices, meters, markets, and other signals to enable our customers to deliver exceptional products and services at a fraction of the time and cost of today.

We understand that you are aware of and care about your privacy interests, and we take that seriously. This Privacy Notice describes Texture’s policies and practices regarding its collection and use of your data and sets forth your privacy rights.

We recognize that information privacy is an ongoing responsibility, and we will update this Privacy Notice from time to time as we undertake new personal data practices or adopt new privacy policies. This Privacy Notice also incorporates the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for residents of the European Union and the European Economic Area, and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for residents of California.

2. Data Protection Officer

Texture is headquartered in New York in the United States. Texture has appointed an internal data protection officer for you to contact if you have any questions or concerns about Texture’s personal data policies or practices. If you would like to exercise your privacy rights, please direct your query to Texture’s data protection officer:

The Data Protection Officer is Victor Quinn
security@texturehq.com

3. Information We Collect

When you connect your distributed energy resource (DER) devices via Texture Corp., we may collect the following types of information:

Personal Information: Name, address, email address, phone number, and other contact details.
Device Information: Details about the connected DER devices (device type, model, usage data, performance metrics).
Usage Information: Information about how you interact with our platform and your DER devices, including access times, settings, and other usage data.
Technical Information: Data related to your device’s connectivity, such as IP address, network information, and communication logs.

4. Purposes for Collecting Personal Information

We collect personal information for the following purposes:

To provide and improve our services to our customers and their end-users
To communicate with you regarding the services you have authorized
To understand how our platform is used and improve its functionality
To comply with legal obligations

We do not sell personal information to anyone and only share it with third parties who are facilitating the delivery of our services.

Under the CCPA, “sell” is defined broadly, and we assure our California residents that we do not sell their personal information as defined by the CCPA. Additionally, under the GDPR, we only share personal information with third parties who have appropriate data protection measures in place and who process the data in accordance with our instructions and applicable laws.

5. Use of the Texture Platform

When you use the Texture platform to connect your distributed energy resources (DER) devices, we automatically collect certain information and store it in log files. This information may include:

Internet Protocol (IP) Addresses: Used to understand the region or general location where your device is accessing the internet.
Device Information: Browser type, operating system, and other technical data.
Usage Information: A history of your interactions with the platform, including access times, settings changes, and pages viewed.

We use this information to:

Help design and improve our platform to better suit our users’ needs
Diagnose and resolve technical issues
Administer and manage our platform, analyze trends, and track user movements
Gather broad demographic information to assist in understanding user preferences

Texture has a legitimate interest in understanding how end-users interact with its platform. This helps us provide more relevant products and services, communicate value to our customers, and ensure we have appropriate staffing to meet user needs.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Cookies are small text files stored on your computer when you use our platform. We use cookies for various purposes, including improving your online experience (e.g., remembering your account login details).

Texture provides a comprehensive Cookie Preferences Center that describes the cookies and tracking technologies used on the Texture website and outlines how users can accept or reject them. To view the notice, visit https://www.texturehq.com and go to Update Cookie Preferences.

You can change your preferences and decline certain types of cookies. You can also remove existing cookies, but deleting them may prevent you from using parts of our platform.

The personal information Texture collects from you is stored in one or more databases hosted by third parties located in the United States. These third parties do not access your personal information for any purpose other than cloud storage and retrieval. Occasionally, Texture engages third parties to send you information about our products, services, and events.

A list of our third-party sub-processors includes (but is not limited to):

Rudderstack
LogRocket
Google Analytics
Snowflake

We do not disclose your data to non-Texture persons or businesses for independent use unless one of the following applies:

You request or authorize it;
It’s in connection with Texture-hosted or Texture co-sponsored events;
We must comply with the law (e.g., compelled by law enforcement, subpoena, or court order), enforce an agreement, or protect our rights, property, or safety (or that of our employees or others);
It’s shared with our agents, vendors, or service providers who perform functions on our behalf;
To address emergencies or acts of God; or
To address disputes, claims, or to persons demonstrating legal authority to act on your behalf.

We may also gather aggregated data (not personally identifiable) about our services and website visitors and share the results with partners, service providers, advertisers, or other third parties for marketing or promotional purposes.

We do not sell personal information to anyone and only share it with third parties who are facilitating the delivery of our services. Under the CCPA, “sell” is defined broadly, but we want to assure our California residents that we do not sell personal information as defined by the CCPA. Additionally, under the GDPR, we only share personal information with third parties who have appropriate data protection measures and who process the data in accordance with our instructions and applicable laws.

The Texture platform may connect with third-party services such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and others. If you choose to share information from the Texture platform through these services, review the respective privacy policy. If you are a member of a third-party service, that service may link your visit to our site with your data.

8. Transferring Personal Data to the U.S.

Texture is headquartered in the United States. Information we collect about you will be processed in the United States. By using Texture’s platform and services, you acknowledge that your personal information will be processed in the U.S. The U.S. has not sought nor received a GDPR “adequacy” finding from the EU under Article 45. Under Article 46, Texture provides appropriate safeguards (binding, standard data protection clauses) enforceable by data subjects in the EEA and UK. These clauses have been enhanced based on guidance from the European Data Protection Board and will be updated when new draft model clauses are approved.

Depending on circumstances, Texture may also collect and transfer personal data to the U.S. with consent, to perform a contract, or to fulfill a compelling legitimate interest in a manner that does not outweigh your rights and freedoms. Texture endeavors to apply suitable safeguards to protect privacy and security and to use personal data consistently with your relationship with Texture and this Privacy Notice. Texture also enters into data processing agreements with its vendors whenever feasible. Since its founding, Texture has received zero government requests for information.

For more information or if you have questions, please contact us at security@texturehq.com.

The GDPR (and other countries’ privacy laws) provides data subjects with specific rights, including:

Right to be informed
Right of access
Right to rectification
Right to erasure
Right to restrict processing
Right of data portability
Right to object
Rights related to automated decision-making including profiling

This Privacy Notice is intended to inform you about the personal data Texture collects and how it is used.

If you wish to confirm that Texture is processing your data or to access the personal data Texture may have about you, please contact us.

You may also request information about the purpose of processing; the categories of personal data; any recipients of the data (inside or outside Texture); the source of the information (if not provided directly by you); and how long it will be stored. You have the right to correct or erase your data, subject to certain exceptions, and to request that Texture cease using your data for direct marketing. In many countries, you have the right to complain to the appropriate data protection authority if you have concerns about how Texture processes your data. When technically feasible, Texture will—upon request—provide your data to you.

Reasonable access to your data will be provided at no cost. If access cannot be provided in a timely manner, Texture will give you a date when the information will be provided. If access is denied, Texture will explain why.

For questions or complaints regarding data processing, email us at security@texturehq.com. If you are in the EU, you can also contact the European Data Protection Supervisor or your local data protection authority.

10. CCPA Rights

If you are a California resident, you have specific rights regarding your personal information under the CCPA, including:

Right to Know: Request disclosure of how we collected and used your personal information in the last 12 months.
Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
Right to Opt-Out of Sale: Opt out of the sale of your personal information. (Texture does not sell personal information.)
Right to Non-Discrimination: You will not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising any of your CCPA rights.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at security@texturehq.com or through our contact form. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

11. Data Storage and Retention

Your personal data is stored by Texture on its servers and on the servers of the cloud-based database management service Texture engages, located in the United States. Texture retains service data for the duration of the customer’s business relationship with Texture and for some time thereafter to analyze data, support operations, and for historical and archiving purposes. Prospect data is retained until it no longer has business value and is purged from Texture systems.

All personal data under Texture’s control may be deleted upon a verified request from data subjects or their authorized agents, in accordance with GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable laws. For more information on where and how long your personal data is stored, or for information on erasure and portability, please contact us at security@texturehq.com.

12. Children’s Data

We do not knowingly solicit or receive information from children.

13. Questions, Concerns, or Complaints

If you have questions, concerns, or complaints, or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us here:
https://www.texturehq.com/contact