The careful, responsible and legally compliant handling of your personal data and its protection is important to ewz. Our privacy policy tells you what personal data ewz processes, the purposes for which the personal data is processed, how it is protected and what data protection rights you can assert.
Based on the principle of public access, ewz makes important information generally available on the internet. The occurrence of typical risks associated with the information made available by ewz on the internet cannot be prevented in any particular case. The websites and apps operated by ewz may therefore only be used under the following conditions and restrictions:
ewz reserves the right to change or redesign individual functionalities or information services or to remove them from the web without prior notice. Therefore, ewz cannot be held liable for consequences if certain information is no longer available or is no longer available in its previous form. ewz cannot guarantee that its electronic information services or the functionalities offered (such as a search function) can be used without interruption at all times and that the requested information can be transmitted seamlessly and without errors. ewz will do everything possible and reasonable to ensure that the information made available on its websites and apps is always up-to-date and complete.
ewz processes personal data exclusively in compliance with the applicable Swiss data protection standards.
Your personal data is processed primarily on the basis of the Information and Data Protection Act (IDG) of the Canton of Zurich and its implementation rules, as well as the Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) and the associated ordinance (DSV).
3.1 Category of personal data
ewz processes the following categories of personal data in particular:
- Personal details (in particular surname, first name and date of birth)
- Contact details (in particular postal address, email address, telephone number)
- Content data (in particular text entries, images)
- Access/authorisation data (in particular username and password)
- Data provided to us by you for the purpose of providing our services (in particular customer number, charging station number, OTO ID, plant number, contract data, type of property)
- Usage data (in particular metadata)
- Consumption data (in particular electricity consumption data)
- Data that ewz is legally or contractually obliged to collect
- Payment data (in particular credit card data, IBAN no.)
3.2 Purpose of processing
ewz processes personal data for the following purposes:
- In connection with the performance of public duties
- In connection with the processing of enquiries, applications, orders and notifications (e.g. move notifications or disruption notices)
- In connection with intelligent metering and control systems
- In connection with the performance of services in connection with the supply of energy, heating and cooling, telecommunications services and with regard to the conclusion and execution of contracts
- In connection with potential calculators for solar energy and other energy-related services
- In connection with the ewz.mobil app for electromobility
- In connection with billing services
- In connection with electricity consumption and self-consumption in photovoltaic systems
- In connection with the ‘My ewz’ customer portal
- In connection with ensuring IT, building and plant security and the operation of websites, apps and platforms
- In connection with marketing and communication activities, e.g. for sending newsletters, invitations to events and information
- In connection with the use, further development and optimisation of products and services as well as for statistical purposes
- In connection with the recording of customer feedback
- In connection with the organisation and implementation of application procedures
- In connection with visits to power plants
3.3 Disclosure to third parties/disclosure abroad
ewz treats personal data as confidential and only discloses it to third parties if it is authorised to do so by a legal provision, if you as the data subject have given consent in individual cases, if it is indispensable to avert an imminent risk to life or limb in individual cases, or the necessary protection of other essential legal rights is assessed to be of greater significance. To enforce rights, specifically from contractual relationships, ewz is also entitled to disclose personal data to third parties.
ewz discloses personal data to the following categories of persons:
- Portal operator
- IT service providers
- Newsletter service providers
- Campaign and marketing agencies
- Third parties engaged to provide other services, in particular digital service providers, consulting companies, law firms
- Authorities and courts
In addition, ewz reserves the right to commission third parties to process personal data (processors). Data will be disclosed to the processor(s) only to the extent permitted by law and only for the purposes stated in section 3.2. ewz will ensure by means of suitable contractual agreements that the processors also comply with the relevant data protection provisions.
When disclosing personal data to third parties abroad, recipients are required to observe the same data protection provisions that ewz must comply with. The recipients of personal data may be located both in and outside the European continent (worldwide). If the recipients are located in a country without an appropriate level of data protection, ewz will ensure compliance with an appropriate level of protection. ewz will ensure this compliance by concluding standard data protection clauses or other agreements/guarantees. If it is not possible to ensure an adequate level of data protection in this way, ewz may still disclose personal data abroad if the data subject expressly consents to the disclosure.
3.4 Duration of data processing
ewz processes personal data only for as long as is absolutely necessary to fulfil the processing purposes stated in section 3.2 or to achieve contractual or legal purposes (e.g. retention/documentation obligations). If the purpose for processing no longer applies, ewz will delete or otherwise anonymise the personal data without being prompted to do so.
ewz uses cookies on its websites. Cookies are small text files that are automatically stored by the web browser on the user’s internet-enabled device when visiting the website. Cookies document usage information, such as, in particular, the date and time of access to a website as well as the Internet Protocol address (IP address).
In addition to ‘session cookies’, which are deleted automatically after your visit to our website, ewz also uses permanent cookies, which remain on your internet-enabled device even after the respective visit until you delete them.
You can set your browser so that you are informed when a cookie is transmitted to the browser. You can then decide for yourself whether you want to accept a cookie or not. If you do not want cookies, you can set your browser so that incoming cookies are only stored after your confirmation or are generally rejected. You can find more information at the following link. We recommend that you accept the cookies, however, because they make it easier for you to navigate. If you block cookies, you may be limited in your ability to use the interactive features on this or any other website (in German).
5.1 Adobe
When accessing websites and apps, ewz collects data for anonymous statistical evaluations. Evaluations are carried out primarily using the web analytics services Adobe Analytics and Adobe Target. In particular, the following data is transmitted to the web analytics service:
- Your current IP address
- Your operating system and browser type (User Agent)
- Date, time and duration of your visit
- The web pages accessed
- Scroll depth in individual items
- General information about the Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Personal data will not be stored. The IP address is stored completely anonymously and used in this form for geolocation. Users have the option of objecting to the use of the web analytics service at any time on the website of the web analytics service provider (in German). This has no influence on the functionalities of the website.
5.2 Mautic
Mautic is an analytics and tracking software for associating and storing usage data (including the browser used, last page visited, duration of stay), which is only used occasionally by ewz. The software uses this information to customise marketing measures and align them more closely with the interests of each individual user.
With Mautic, your IP address is stored locally in anonymised form on the servers of the marketing agency addvanto AG in Switzerland.
5.3 Fusedeck
The tracking solution fusedeck from Capture Media AG (hereinafter ‘Capture Media’) is occasionally used for websites and digital advertising campaigns. Capture Media is a Swiss company based in Zurich that measures the use of this website in the context of engagements and events on our behalf. The tracking is anonymous, so that no link to specific or identifiable persons can be established.
Further information on data protection in connection with fusedeck, including an opt-out option, can be found here: https://privacy.fusedeck.net/en/OxpfP7FDb9 (in German).
5.4 Bing Ads
ewz uses Bing Ads. In order to measure the success of these ads, a cookie is stored on your internet-enabled device when you access an ewz website via an ad in Bing. This cookie is not used for personal identification as it does not contain any personal data. Instead, ewz (and Microsoft) can use it to determine whether you have accessed ewz websites via an ad. This determination is used to compile access statistics for ewz websites. In order to measure the success of these ads, a cookie is stored on your internet-enabled device when you access an ewz website via an ad in Bing. This cookie is not used for personal identification as it does not contain any personal data. Instead, ewz (and Microsoft) can use it to determine whether you have accessed ewz websites via an ad. These statistics are used to compile access statistics for ewz’s websites. Through these statistics, ewz learns, for example, the total number of users who clicked on ewz’s advertisements and which ewz websites were subsequently accessed by the respective user. However, ewz does not receive any information with which you can be personally identified. The information collected is also used by Microsoft to measure and improve the effectiveness of our advertising activities.
Information on data use by Microsoft, settings and objection options can be found in Microsoft’s privacy policy: https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/privacy/privacystatement (in German).
6.1 Google Ads
ewz uses Google Ads. If you access an ewz website via a Google ad, a cookie is stored on your internet-enabled device. This cookie is not used for personal identification as it does not contain any personal data. Instead, ewz (and Google) can use it to determine whether you have accessed ewz websites via an ad. Google uses these statistics to compile access statistics for ewz’s websites. Through these statistics, ewz learns the total number of users who clicked on ewz’s advertisements and which ewz websites were subsequently accessed by the respective user. However, ewz does not receive any information with which you can be personally identified.
6.2 Google Analytics
For individual websites and apps, ewz uses the functions of the web analytics service Google Analytics (in German), which is operated by Google Ireland, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.
With Google Analytics, data is recorded about the internet-enabled device you use (e.g. location of access to the website, browser type or language setting and device ID) and your behaviour on the websites and apps (e.g. duration and frequency of visits, content accessed, clicks on links, scrolling behaviour, etc.). On this basis, Google generates statistical evaluations for ewz about the use of our websites and apps and forecasts future uses. In this context, Google Analytics uses, among other things, cookies that are stored on your computer. Google does not receive any personal data about you from ewz and does not store any IP addresses, but may combine information about your usage behaviour on our websites and apps with data from other websites that you have visited and that also use Google Analytics. Google may use this data for its own purposes (e.g. to control and optimise advertising). If you have registered with Google itself, Google can also identify you and associate the collected data collected with you. Such processing of your personal data by Google is the responsibility of Google in accordance with its own privacy policy (see https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en&gl=en). Google only tells ewz how our websites and apps are used.
6.3 Google Tag Manager
Google Tag Manager is used on ewz websites to integrate Google analysis and marketing services in the website and manage them. Google Tag Manager triggers other tags, which in turn may collect data. However, Google Tag Manager does not process any personal data. If a deactivation has been made at the domain or cookie level, it remains in place for all tracking tags implemented with Google Tag Manager.
Information on how Google uses data, settings and objection options can be found in Google’s privacy policy (in German) and in the settings for displaying advertisements by Google (in German).
ewz websites and apps may contain links to social media networks. These are links to the following ewz social media pages:
- Meta (Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland)
- LinkedIn (LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company Attn: Legal Dept. (Privacy Policy and User Agreement) Wilton Plaza Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland)
- TikTok (TikTok Technology Limited, 10 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin, D02 T380, Ireland)
If you select a link to an ewz social media page, a direct connection is established between your browser and the server of the relevant social network. This notifies the relevant social network that you have visited an ewz website or app and clicked on the corresponding link. If you select a link to a social network and are logged in to your account with that social network at the same time, the content of that website or app may be linked to your profile on the network. As a result, the social network can associate your visit to the respective ewz website or app directly with your user account. If you want to prevent this, you should log out of your social network account before accessing the relevant links. An association is always made when you log in to the relevant network after clicking on the link.
ewz has no influence on external web pages to which it links. ewz cannot guarantee that the information contained on external web pages is correct or free of malware (e.g. viruses) or that the external web pages comply with applicable data protection legislation. ewz also cannot guarantee that these links will always function properly or that they will always refer to the same content. For these reasons, ewz accepts no liability for the linked external websites.
ewz uses plugins from the YouTube video portal (YouTube LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA) on its websites. YouTube is a subsidiary of Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.
When a YouTube video is played, a direct connection is established between your browser and a YouTube server in the USA. Information about your visit and your IP address are stored.
If you start a YouTube video and are logged in to your YouTube user account at the same time, the content of the website or app you visit may be linked to your YouTube profile. If you do not want this, you must log out of YouTube before visiting the website.
YouTube is responsible for data processing in accordance with its privacy policy. ewz does not receive any personal data from YouTube.
For information on the purpose and scope of data collection as well as the further processing and use of your personal data by YouTube, please refer to the privacy policy of Google Inc. (which operates YouTube). There you will also find further information about your rights and settings options to protect your privacy as well as your right to object to the creation of user profiles:
- Privacy & Terms – Google (in German)
We will only send you the ewz newsletter if you have subscribed to it. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time via a link at the bottom of the newsletter.
11.1 Access to the customer portal
In order to use the services on the ewz customer portal, registration in ‘My Account’ (a service of the city of Zurich) with the entry of personal identifiers (email, password), the entry of relevant customer data and a two-stage authentication process (by e-mail and mobile phone number verification) are required.
Customers who have identified themselves with the aforementioned identifiers are considered by ewz to be authorised to use the services offered.
11.2 Due diligence obligations of customers
As a customer who uses the ewz customer portal, you are obliged to keep your personal identifiers confidential and to protect this information against misuse by unauthorised persons.
11.3 User management within the ewz.ch portal
The respective customer is responsible for granting access and assigning roles for use of the ewz customer portal. Customers decide for themselves and are responsible for which third parties they grant access to the customer portal. For this purpose, each administrator may approve new users on the platform. ewz is not liable for unauthorised access to the customer portal by third parties. ewz is entitled to block access to the password-protected areas if ewz has reason to believe that an unauthorised third party has gained access to the possible applications of this area.
ewz uses suitable technical and organisational security measures to protect your personal data stored by us against loss, unauthorised and unlawful processing, manipulation or destruction. In order to comply with the applicable data protection regulations, ewz continuously improves and adapts its security measures to technological advancements.
Within the scope of the data protection law applicable to you, you have the following rights:
- Right of access: You have the right to request information as to whether your personal data is being processed, for what purpose and for how long it is being stored.
- Right of rectification: You have the right to have your personal data supplemented, rectified or blocked.
- Right to erasure: You have the right to have your personal data erased.
- Right to object: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data.
- Right of withdrawal: You have the right to withdraw your consent to the processing of your personal data and to have your personal data deleted.
Please note that the applicable data protection regulations provide for exceptions and restrictions with regard to your rights. In this regard, your personal data may continue to be processed and stored if ewz is legally obliged to do so in order to safeguard its own legitimate interests or if the data is necessary for the fulfilment or assertion of contractual claims.
If you have any questions about your data protection rights or asserting these rights, please contact datenschutz@ewz.ch. The processing of enquiries and requests in connection with the exercise of data protection rights generally requires the prior unambiguous identification of the requesting person.
The entity responsible for the data collection and processing described above is the
Zurich Municipal Electric Utility (ewz)
Tramstrasse 35
8050 Zurich
Email: datenschutz@ewz.ch
ewz reserves the right to amend and supplement this privacy policy at any time. The version published on the respective websites applies. This privacy policy was last updated on 1 September 2023.
