Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 2025

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

At WhyTheHighBill.com, we understand that your utility data is personal and sensitive. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and handle your information with the utmost care and transparency.

Information We Collect

1. Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Email address - Used for account authentication and communications
• Password - Securely hashed and stored for account access
• Name (optional) - For personalized communications

2. Utility Bill Data

When you upload utility bills for analysis:

• Utility Provider Names - We store the names of your utility providers to track your service history
• Partial Account Numbers - We store only the last 4 digits of utility account numbers to help you differentiate between multiple accounts
• Usage Data - Kilowatt hours, gallons, therms, and costs from your bills
• Service Dates - Billing periods and service dates

3. Address Information

• Temporary Processing - We use your service address to gather relevant home data (square footage, typical usage patterns for your area)
• Not Stored - We DO NOT permanently store your full address in our database
• Anonymized Location - We may store general location data (city, state, zip code) for comparison purposes

4. Newsletter Subscriptions

If you subscribe to our newsletter:

• Email address
• Name (if provided)
• Subscription preferences
• Email verification status

5. Technical Information

• IP Address - For security and analytics
• Browser Information - To ensure compatibility
• Device Type - For responsive design optimization
• Cookies - For session management and preferences

What We DON'T Store

We are committed to data minimization:

• ❌ Full utility account numbers
• ❌ Full street addresses
• ❌ Social Security Numbers
• ❌ Payment card information (handled by secure third-party processors)
• ❌ Bank account details

How We Use Your Information

Primary Uses:

1. Bill Analysis - Analyzing your utility usage patterns
2. Cost Savings - Identifying opportunities to reduce your bills
3. Comparisons - Comparing your usage to similar homes in your area
4. Recommendations - Providing personalized energy-saving tips
5. Account Management - Managing your account and preferences

Secondary Uses:

• Sending service-related emails
• Newsletter communications (if subscribed)
• Improving our analysis algorithms
• Aggregate analytics (anonymized)

Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures:

• Encryption - All data is encrypted in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
• Password Security - Passwords are hashed using bcrypt
• Access Controls - Strict internal access controls and authentication
• Regular Audits - Security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Secure Infrastructure - Cloud infrastructure with security certifications

Data Sharing

We DO NOT sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share data only in these limited circumstances:

1. Service Providers - Trusted third parties who help operate our service (under strict confidentiality agreements)
2. Legal Requirements - If required by law or valid legal process
3. Safety - To protect the rights and safety of our users or others
4. Business Transfers - In the event of a merger or acquisition (with notice to users)

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access - Request a copy of your personal data
• Correct - Update inaccurate information
• Delete - Request deletion of your account and data
• Port - Export your data in a machine-readable format
• Opt-out - Unsubscribe from marketing communications
• Restrict - Limit how we process your data

Data Retention

• Active Accounts - Data retained while account is active
• Inactive Accounts - Deleted after 2 years of inactivity
• Deleted Accounts - Immediately removed upon request
• Legal Obligations - Some data may be retained as required by law

Children's Privacy

WhyTheHighBill.com is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13.

Third-Party Services

We use trusted third-party services:

• Analytics - Fathom Analytics (privacy-focused, no personal data collected)
• Email - For transactional and marketing emails
• Cloud Storage - For secure data storage
• Payment Processing - For premium features (PCI compliant)

Cookies

We use minimal cookies:

• Essential - For authentication and security
• Functional - To remember your preferences
• Analytics - Anonymous usage statistics

You can control cookies through your browser settings.

International Data Transfers

We primarily store data in the United States. By using our service, you consent to the transfer of your data to the United States.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy periodically. We'll notify you of significant changes via email or prominent notice on our website.

Contact Us

For privacy questions or concerns:

Email: privacy@whythehighbill.com
Mail: WhyTheHighBill.com Privacy Team
c/o Hackney Enterprises Inc.
[Address]

California Privacy Rights

California residents have additional rights under CCPA. Contact us to exercise these rights.

European Privacy Rights

EU residents have additional rights under GDPR. See our GDPR Compliance page for details.

This privacy policy is effective as of January 2025 and supersedes all previous versions.