Customized Energy Solutions (CES) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how Customized Energy Solutions and its global affiliates and subsidiaries (collectively, “CES,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collect, use, disclose, and safeguard personal data when you visit our website (www.ces-ltd.com), use our online services, interact with us, or otherwise engage with our energy consulting, technology, and market solutions (collectively, the “Services”).
CES is a global energy services and technology company founded in 1998 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, with offices across the United States (including California), Canada, Japan, India, Vietnam, the UAE, and other locations. We support clients worldwide in navigating deregulated electricity and natural gas markets through consulting, asset management, retail operations, and proprietary technology platforms.
This Policy applies to personal data we process as a data controller. Additional or different terms may apply when we process data on behalf of business clients as a processor. By using our Services, you confirm that you understand and agree to the collection and use of your personal data as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our Services.
1. What Personal Data Do We Collect?
We collect the following categories of personal data:
- Identity and Professional Data: Name, title, company name, job title or role.
- Contact Data: Email address, phone number, mailing address, location.
- Transaction and Service Data: Details related to inquiries, event registrations, service contracts, or consultations.
- Technical and Usage Data: IP address, browser type and version, device information, operating system, pages visited, navigation paths, search terms, and other website usage data (automatically collected via cookies and similar technologies).
- Marketing and Communications Data: Preferences for receiving newsletters, reports, event invitations, or other communications.
- Job Applicant Data (if applicable): Resume details, employment history, education, certifications, or background check information.
- Other Data: Information you voluntarily provide through contact forms, surveys, event registrations, or client engagements.
We do not intentionally collect sensitive personal data (such as racial or ethnic origin, health data, or precise geolocation) unless it is required for a specific lawful purpose and you provide it with explicit consent or as otherwise permitted by law.
Sources: We collect data directly from you, automatically through our website and technologies, from our affiliates, service providers, public sources, or third parties (e.g., business partners or analytics providers), and, in the case of client engagements, from our business clients.
2. How Do We Use Personal Data?
We use your personal data for the following purposes:
- Responding to your inquiries and providing energy consulting, technology, or market solutions services.
- Managing events, webinars, newsletters, reports, and client communications.
- Performing contracts and delivering professional services.
- Improving our website performance, user experience, and Services.
- Sending marketing communications (only with your consent where required by law).
- Processing job applications and managing recruitment.
- Ensuring security, preventing fraud, and protecting our network and Services.
- Complying with legal obligations or responding to lawful requests.
- Any other purpose disclosed to you at the time of collection or with your consent.
We do not use your personal data for purposes that are incompatible with those listed without your consent or as otherwise permitted by law.
3. Legal Bases for Collecting and Using Personal Data
We rely on the following legal bases (as applicable under relevant data protection laws):
- Performance of a contract or steps taken at your request prior to entering a contract.
- Your consent (which you may withdraw at any time).
- Our legitimate business interests (e.g., improving Services, marketing where permitted, security, and operational efficiency).
- Compliance with legal or regulatory obligations.
4. Do We Disclose Personal Data?
We do not sell personal data. We may disclose personal data in the following circumstances:
- Within the CES Corporate Family: To our affiliates and subsidiaries worldwide for the purposes described above.
- Service Providers and Vendors: To trusted third-party providers (e.g., hosting, analytics, marketing platforms, event management) who are contractually required to protect the data and use it only for the services they provide to us.
- With Your Consent: To other parties where you have given specific permission.
- Legal Requirements: To law enforcement, regulators, or other third parties when required by law, subpoena, court order, or to protect rights, safety, or property.
- Business Transactions: In connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets.
When we act as a data processor for business clients, we process personal data only on the client’s documented instructions and in accordance with our contractual obligations.
5. How Long Do We Process and Keep Your Personal Data?
We retain personal data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, considering the nature and sensitivity of the data, the risks of unauthorized use, legal requirements, and whether we can achieve the same purposes through other means. When retention is no longer necessary, we securely delete, destroy, or anonymize the data.
6. Newsletters and Marketing: Your Choices
You can control marketing and newsletter communications by following the “unsubscribe” instructions in any email we send or by contacting us at privacy@ces-ltd.com. We honor opt-out requests promptly.
7. Tracking Technologies (Cookies)
We use cookies, web beacons, pixels, and similar technologies to enable essential website functions, analyze usage, remember preferences, and deliver tailored content or advertising (where permitted).
- Essential Cookies: Required for the site to function.
- Analytics Cookies: Help us understand visitor behavior and improve performance.
- Functional Cookies: Store your preferences.
- Marketing Cookies: Track behavior for more relevant communications (used only with consent where required).
Where required by law, we obtain your consent before placing non-essential cookies. You can manage preferences through our cookie banner, your browser settings, or by contacting us. Disabling cookies may limit certain features.
8. International Data Transfers
Because CES operates globally, your personal data may be transferred to, stored, or processed in the United States or other countries where we or our service providers maintain operations (including Pennsylvania, California, Canada, Japan, India, Vietnam, and the UAE). These countries may have different data protection laws than your home country.
We implement appropriate safeguards for cross-border transfers, such as standard contractual clauses approved by relevant authorities, binding corporate rules (where applicable), or other mechanisms permitted by law. For transfers subject to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or equivalent laws, we ensure adequate protection.
9. Security
We maintain reasonable technical, organizational, and administrative safeguards (including encryption, access controls, firewalls, and monitoring) to protect personal data against loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, or alteration. While we strive to protect your information, no security system is impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
We will notify affected individuals and regulators of data breaches where required by applicable law.
10. Children’s Privacy
Our Services are not directed to children under the age of 18 (or the applicable age of majority in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child without parental consent, we will take steps to delete it.
11. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any information.
12. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights regarding your personal data, including the right to:
- Access, correct, or delete your data.
- Restrict or object to certain processing.
- Withdraw consent.
- Data portability (in certain cases).
- Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.
To exercise these rights, submit a verifiable request to privacy@ces-ltd.com. We will respond within 30 days (or as required by law) after verifying your identity. We do not discriminate against you for exercising your rights.
13. Privacy Notice for California Consumers (CCPA/CPRA)
This section applies to California residents and supplements this Policy. Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), you have the right to:
- Know what personal information we have collected about you.
- Delete your personal information (subject to exceptions).
- Correct inaccurate personal information.
- Opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information (we do not sell personal information; you may opt out of sharing for targeted advertising via our cookie settings).
- Limit the use and disclosure of sensitive personal information (if applicable).
- Non-discrimination for exercising these rights.
To exercise these rights, email privacy@ces-ltd.com or call 215.875.9440. Requests must be verifiable. We do not respond to browser “Do Not Track” signals.
14. Notice to Canadian Residents
This section applies to residents of Canada and aligns with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and substantially similar provincial laws. We limit collection to what is necessary, obtain consent where required, retain data only as long as needed, and provide access and correction rights upon request. To exercise rights, contact privacy@ces-ltd.com.
15. Data Processing Terms (for Business Clients)
When we process personal data on behalf of business clients as a service provider/processor:
- We process data only on the client’s documented instructions.
- We implement appropriate security measures and maintain confidentiality.
- We promptly report data breaches as required.
- Upon termination of services, we delete or return the data as instructed (unless legally required to retain it).
16. Policy Updates
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of the page. Your continued use of our Services after any updates constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy. Material changes will be posted prominently on our website.
17. Contact Us
For any questions, requests, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact:
Privacy Officer Customized Energy Solutions 1528 Walnut Street, 22nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA Email: privacy@ces-ltd.com Phone: 215.875.9440
We welcome feedback and are happy to assist disabled users in accessing this Policy or exercising their rights.