Privacy Policy

About This Policy and Who We Are

Cost Effective Energy (“Cost Effective Energy,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is an independent, licensed electricity broker. We are not a utility company and we do not sell or generate electricity. Instead, we use AI-powered technology to compare electricity plans and rates from third-party providers and help you enroll in a plan that fits your home or business. We operate in deregulated energy markets including Texas, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York, and Illinois. Cost Effective Energy holds multiple state Broker Licenses.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you use our website (costeffectiveenergy.com), our customer portal, our mobile applications, and related services (collectively, the “Services”). This site and our Services are intended for individuals who are 18 years of age or older and who have the authority to make energy purchasing decisions for their household or business. By using our Services, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

Security and Protection of Personal Information

We take commercially reasonable measures to help protect the data you share with us, both online and offline. Personal information stored in our systems is maintained in a controlled environment and protected against unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Our servers are housed in secure environments and protected using firewall configurations and data encryption protocols. We use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology to encrypt data transmissions so that personal information you submit through our website and apps, or that we transmit to trusted service partners, is protected during transfer.

Access to your personal data is limited. Our employees are bound by internal policies and are prohibited from using or sharing personal information in any unauthorized manner. These practices are designed to help preserve the confidentiality of your information. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach that involves your personal information and that creates a risk of harm, we will notify affected individuals in accordance with applicable law. Our notification process includes:

• Investigating and confirming the breach as quickly as reasonably practicable, generally within 72 hours of discovery.
• Notifying affected individuals without unreasonable delay, generally within 30 days of confirming the breach, or within any shorter timeframe required by applicable state or federal law.
• Delivering notifications by email (to the address on file), postal mail, or website/app notice, depending on the nature of the breach and the contact information available.
• Describing, to the extent known: the nature of the breach, the categories of personal information involved, steps we are taking to address it, and recommended steps you can take to protect yourself.
• Notifying relevant regulatory authorities (such as state Attorneys General) within the timeframes prescribed by applicable law where required.

Third-Party Provider Breaches: The notification commitments above apply solely to data within Cost Effective Energy’s own systems and control. When you transact directly with an unaffiliated third-party electricity provider, your personal and payment information may be held within that provider’s systems. Cost Effective Energy is not responsible for the security of personal information used to enroll you in third-party services and is not liable for any losses, damages, or claims resulting from a third-party provider’s data breach, unauthorized access, or security incident. Any breach notification obligations for data held by a third party rest solely with that provider in accordance with applicable law. We encourage you to review the security and privacy policies of any provider before enrolling.

If you believe your account may have been compromised, please contact us immediately at support@costeffectiveenergy.com.

Information We Collect

We collect Personally Identifiable Information when you create an account or enroll, purchase a product or service or pay your subscription, request information, use our AI comparison tools or Energy Assistant, disconnect or cancel a service, subscribe to our newsletter, or contact us.

Information You Provide to Us

Depending on how you use our Services, we may collect:

• Identity and contact information: your full legal name, email address, home or service address, mailing address, and telephone number.
• Date of birth, State ID and Social Security number: collected when necessary so that third-party electricity providers can perform credit checks required to enroll you in a plan. We treat this as sensitive information (see “Sensitive Information” below).
• Electricity usage information: details from your recent electricity statement or usage history, which our AI uses to analyze your consumption and match you with cost-effective plans.
• Service and property details: information about your current or new residence relevant to setting up electricity service.
• Payment information: to bill your monthly subscription (currently $10/month) and any applicable service fees. If you pay by credit card, this may include card number, card type, cardholder name, billing address, and expiration date. If you choose automatic deduction (electronic funds transfer), this may include your account number, account type, account holder name, and the ABA routing number of your financial institution.
• Communications: information you provide when you contact support, chat with our Energy Assistant, respond to surveys, or post in any public areas of our site.

We may also gather non-personally identifiable demographic information that is not unique to you, including your ZIP code, age range, gender, preferences, and interests.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our site or use our apps, we automatically collect certain information about your device and activity, which may include your IP address, browser type, device identifiers, operating system, domain names, access times, referring website addresses, and pages or screens viewed. We use this to operate and maintain the quality of our Services, analyze usage trends, compile general statistics, and support our marketing efforts.

Public Areas and Third-Party Links

If you voluntarily share personal information in public areas of our site, such as message boards or blog comments, that information may be collected and used by others. Cost Effective Energy does not access or monitor your private online communications. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites you reach through links on our site, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies.

How We Use Your Information

In plain terms, we use your information to:

• Provide the service: analyze your electricity usage, compare plans, match you with cost-effective options, and enroll you with the provider.
• Run your account and billing: set up and process your subscription and any service fees, and manage automatic plan renewal.
• Communicate with you: send account updates, billing notices, plan and renewal alerts, and respond to your questions and support requests.
• Improve our Services: understand how visitors use our site and apps so we can fix problems and improve our AI matching.
• Tell you about offers: share relevant products, services, or promotions from us and our affiliates (you can opt out of marketing anytime).
• Meet legal and regulatory obligations: comply with applicable laws, broker licensing requirements, and lawful requests.

We do not use your information for purposes materially different from those described above without your consent or as otherwise permitted by law.

Data Minimization and Purpose Limitation

We are committed to collecting only the personal information necessary for the specific, legitimate purposes described in this policy. We collect personal data only to the extent required to provide the Services you request, fulfill legal obligations, or pursue legitimate business interests; we do not repurpose data for materially different uses without your consent or legal basis; and we periodically review the personal data we hold and delete or anonymize information that is no longer necessary.

AI-Powered Tools and Automated Analysis

Our Services use artificial intelligence to analyze your electricity usage and other information you provide in order to compare plans and recommend cost-effective options. These tools support the recommendations we present to you; you remain in control of your final choice of plan. We do not use your sensitive information (such as your Social Security number) to build advertising profiles.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to personalize your online experience and improve our Services. A cookie is a small text file placed on your device by a web page server, uniquely assigned to you and readable only by the domain that issued it. Cookies help save you time, for example by remembering your information on future visits.

We may also use cookies and similar technologies, including those from third-party service providers and advertising partners, to measure performance and deliver advertising that may be relevant to your interests on other websites and platforms.

You can accept or decline cookies through your browser settings; however, declining cookies may limit your ability to fully use the interactive features of our Services.

Third-Party Analytics Tools

We use third-party analytics services to understand how visitors interact with our Services and to improve them. These may include:

• Google Analytics — provided by Google LLC, which collects information such as your IP address (anonymized where required), browser type, pages visited, and time spent. You can opt out by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. Google’s privacy policy is at policies.google.com/privacy.
• Other analytics, tag management, or pixel-based tools — where used, we will identify them and update this section accordingly.

Data collected by these tools may be transmitted to and stored on servers in the United States or other countries.

Opting Out of Targeted Advertising

You have several clear ways to opt out of interest-based (targeted) advertising:

• Global Privacy Control (GPC): If your browser sends a GPC signal, we will automatically treat it as a request to opt out of targeted advertising for that browser and device — no further action needed.
• Browser/Device Settings: Adjust your browser or mobile device settings to block or limit advertising cookies and identifiers.
• Industry Opt-Out Tools: Visit the Network Advertising Initiative at optout.networkadvertising.org or the Digital Advertising Alliance at optout.aboutads.info to opt out of multiple advertising networks at once.
• Account Preferences: Log in to your account to manage advertising-related choices where available.

Opting out does not mean you will stop seeing ads — you may still see general, non-personalized ads. Because opt-out preferences are typically stored in a cookie, you may need to opt out again if you clear cookies or use a different browser or device.

SMS / Text Message Communications

With your consent, Cost Effective Energy may send you informational and promotional text messages (SMS/MMS) to the mobile number you provide. By opting in, you agree to receive recurring automated marketing and informational messages from us.

How to Opt In

You may opt in by checking the applicable consent box during enrollment or registration, texting a designated keyword (such as “JOIN” or “YES”) to a short code we provide, or giving verbal or written consent through a customer service interaction. Message frequency varies based on your account activity and preferences. Standard message and data rates may apply.

How to Opt Out

You may opt out at any time by texting STOP to the short code from which you received the message, or by contacting support@costeffectiveenergy.com to request removal. After texting STOP, you will receive a single confirmation message; no further marketing messages will be sent unless you re-enroll. For help, text HELP to the short code or contact us. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties, except as necessary to facilitate the delivery of text message services through aggregators or service providers.

Electricity Service Providers

Electricity plans and services compared through our Services are provided by unaffiliated third-party providers. When you choose to enroll in a plan, you are transacting business directly with that provider. We provide your personal and enrollment information (which may include your name, contact details, service address, date of birth, and Social Security number) to the selected provider only as necessary to enroll you and to allow required credit checks. While we work with providers we consider reputable, we encourage you to review each provider’s privacy policy. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party providers.

Because you transact directly with these providers, you acknowledge and agree that any security risk, unauthorized access, or data breach occurring on a third-party provider’s systems is the sole responsibility of that provider, not Cost Effective Energy. Cost Effective Energy is not responsible for the security of personal information used to enroll you in third-party services and is not liable for any losses, damages, or claims of any kind resulting from a third-party service provider’s data breach, security incident, act, or omission. Once your information is transmitted to and held by a third-party provider, it is governed solely by that provider’s privacy and security practices, and we disclaim all liability for it to the fullest extent permitted by law. We strongly recommend reviewing each provider’s security and breach notification practices before sharing your information with them.

Other Third Parties and Service Providers

We do not sell, rent, or lease our customers’ personal data to third parties. Occasionally, we may contact you on behalf of an external business partner about an offer that may be relevant to you; in those instances, we do not share your personal information (such as your name, email, mailing address, or phone number) with the partner. We may share data with trusted service providers who help us operate, such as for payment processing, statistical analysis, sending communications, customer support, or hosting. Such providers are prohibited from using your personal information for any purpose other than providing services on our behalf and are required to keep it confidential.

Sensitive Information

Certain information we collect, including your Social Security number and date of birth, is considered sensitive. We collect it only when necessary for credit checks required to enroll you with an electricity provider, we limit access to it, and we share it only with the selected provider and processors as needed to complete enrollment. We do not use or disclose other categories of sensitive personal information, such as race, religion, or political affiliations, without your explicit consent. Where required by applicable law, we obtain your consent before processing sensitive data.

Your Privacy Rights and Choices

Depending on your state of residence, you may have rights regarding your personal data under applicable state privacy laws, including the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA) and comparable laws in other states where we operate. Subject to applicable law and verification of your identity, these rights may include:

• The right to confirm whether we are processing your personal data and to access that data.
• The right to obtain a copy of your personal data in a portable, readily usable format.
• The right to correct inaccuracies in your personal data.
• The right to request deletion of personal data you provided or that we obtained about you.
• The right to opt out of the processing of your personal data for targeted advertising, the sale of personal data, or certain profiling.
• The right to appeal a denial of a request, and the right not to be discriminated against for exercising your rights.

How to submit a request: You may submit a request by emailing support@costeffectiveenergy.com or by using the Contact Us page on our website. We provide more than one method to submit requests, and you are not required to create a new account to do so. We will respond without undue delay and within 45 days of receipt, with the possibility of a 45-day extension where reasonably necessary, in which case we will notify you. To protect your account, we may need to verify your identity before fulfilling a request. Authorized agents may submit opt-out requests on your behalf where permitted by law.

Illinois residents: Because we operate in Illinois, please note that we do not collect or use biometric identifiers (such as fingerprints or facial geometry) as defined under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. If this changes, we will update this policy and obtain any required consent.

Your Communication Preferences

You have choices about how we communicate with you:

• Email marketing: Click “Unsubscribe” in any marketing email, or update your settings in your account profile.
• SMS/text messages: Text STOP to the relevant short code, or contact support. See the SMS section above for details.
• Newsletter: Use the unsubscribe link in any newsletter email to opt out.
• Transactional messages: Opting out of marketing will not stop service-related messages such as billing notices, enrollment confirmations, renewal alerts, or other communications necessary to administer your account.

Children’s Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

Our Services are directed exclusively to adults (18 years of age or older) with the authority to make energy purchasing decisions. In compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), we do not knowingly collect, use, or disclose personal information from children under the age of 13. If a service or product requires a birth date for enrollment, users will not be permitted to enter a birth date indicating they are under 18 years of age. If we learn that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13 without verifiable parental consent, we will delete it promptly. Parents or guardians with concerns should contact us at support@costeffectiveenergy.com.

Account Cancellation, Data Deletion, and Retention

If you have an online account accessed through our website, customer portal, or mobile app, you can request cancellation of service at any time. We retain personal data only as long as necessary to provide the Services, comply with legal and regulatory obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

How to Cancel or Delete Your Account

You have the right to cancel your service and request deletion of your personal information. Here is exactly how:

1. Submit a request: Visit the Contact Us page and select “Cancellation of Service,” or email support@costeffectiveenergy.com with the subject line “Account Cancellation” or “Data Deletion Request.”
2. Verify your identity: To protect your account, we may ask you to confirm details such as the email address or account name on file.
3. Confirmation: We will confirm receipt and let you know once your request has been processed.
4. Deletion timeline: Account-related data, including login credentials, will generally be deleted within 30 days of processing, except for information we are legally required or permitted to retain (such as billing records, enrollment records, or data needed for regulatory or broker-licensing obligations).

This applies to all users, including those who sign in through social login options such as Facebook, Google, or Apple, as well as users with a unique username and password. If you used a social login, deleting your Cost Effective Energy account removes the connection on our side; you may also need to revoke our access through that provider’s settings. Contact us anytime at support@costeffectiveenergy.com regarding the status of a request.

Legal Obligations

Cost Effective Energy may disclose your personal information, without prior notice, if required to do so by law or if we believe in good faith that such action is necessary to comply with legal obligations or respond to legal process, to protect and defend the rights or property of Cost Effective Energy, or to act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of our Services or the public.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect company developments, legal requirements, or customer feedback. When we make material changes, we will update the “Last Updated” date above and, where appropriate, provide additional notice. We encourage you to review this statement periodically.

Contact Information

We welcome your questions or comments. If you believe we have not adhered to this statement, or to exercise any of your privacy rights, please contact us:

Cost Effective Energy
5900 Balcones Drive STE 100, Austin, TX 78731
Email: support@costeffectiveenergy.com
Phone: (833) 444-2455

We will make every reasonable effort to promptly investigate and resolve your concern.