Residential energy storage device data

This notice applies to users of residential energy storage devices, such as a battery or hot water heater that is controllable, and who enter into an agreement with a partner (e.g. your supplier/installer) to use Centrica technology to directly or indirectly control these devices for the purpose of local energy management and / or services for the benefit of the electricity grid.

In the case of direct control, Centrica Business Solutions Belgium NV controls the storage device with the aim of being able to use locally as much locally produced energy as possible, such as the energy from solar panels (at the same location), but also to help Elia [https: //www.elia.be/en/privacy-policy], the Belgian transmission grid operator, with 'demand control programmes' in which context the device is integrated into a virtual power plant.

In the case of indirect control, the partner that refers you to this website will be responsible for controlling the energy storage device. However, this control will be partly influenced by the fact that this energy storage device is used to help Elia [https://www.elia.be/en/privacy-policy], the Belgian transmission grid operator, with a demand control programme, in which context the device is integrated into a virtual power plant.

A virtual power plant is a collaboration between residential energy storage devices and large-scale battery storage. Together, these devices act as a virtual power plant to provide balancing services to Elia via a demand control programme, which is used to balance supply and demand in the electricity grid, thus supporting the integration of renewables into our energy system.   

We - Centrica Business Solutions Belgium NV - are helping Elia with this demand control programme.  We need your personal data for this.  This notice explains how we process your personal data.

In summary, based on your agreement, we receive identification data for your energy storage device (this can be your device ID, usage data and the number used to determine the supply point of electricity and gas (EAN number)).  Using these identifiers, Centrica Business Solutions Belgium NV will -  in the case of direct control - send instructions to your storage device to store locally produced renewable energy in combination with providing demand control, or - in the case of indirect control - we will start sending the demand control programme to the partner that will result in instructions being sent to your storage device.

We (Centrica Business Solutions Belgium NV) gather your device information, such as power and energy, together with similar information from other devices, and we provide this combined data to Elia along with the EAN number and your device ID. We will also provide your EAN number and installed device power to your local distribution grid operator, as they need to verify that the service is within the grid limitations (Here you can see which distribution system operator you are exposed to -https://www.vreg. be/nl/wie-is-mijn-netbeheerder).

Elia needs the energy and power data to check the quality of the service.

You can contact our data protection officer by writing to The Data Protection Officer, Centrica Plc, Millstream, Maidenhead Road, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 5GD or by sending an email to privacy@centrica.com.

1. Personal data we receive

If you have given your consent or entered into a contract for the provision of these services, we will receive the following data:

• Device ID
• EAN number: of the electricity supply meter on your property where the storage device is located.

We also receive:

• Power data: for example, the storage capacity, locally produced renewable energy and data at the household level.

• Energy data: the energy data from your storage device.

Exercising your rights: if you exercise any of your legal rights under the data protection law, we will keep a record of it and how we respond.

2. What do we use your personal data for and why

If and when we process your personal data because you have permitted this
We process these items of your personal data if you have given your consent. You can withdraw your consent at any time, but this may affect our services:

If and when we process your personal data because we have a legitimate interest in doing so. We process these parts of your personal data because we have a legitimate interest in doing so. We process the following categories of personal data, including:

 3. Sources from which we collect your personal information

We will collect personal information from a number of sources. These are:

• Directly from you: when you communicate with us.
• Directly from your storage device, or from a partner.

 4. Who we share your personal data with

We share personal data with the following parties:

5. International transfer of your personal data

Centrica is a global organisation and like other organisations we use third parties located in other countries to help us run our business. As a result, personal data may be transferred outside of the countries where we and our customers are located. This includes countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and countries that do not have laws that provide specific protections for personal data. We have taken steps to ensure that all personal data is adequately protected and that all transfers of personal data outside of the EEA are lawful. When we transfer personal data outside the EEA to a country that the European Commission has not determined to provide an adequate level of protection for personal data, the transfers will be made under an agreement that covers the requirements for transfers of personal data outside the EEA, such as the European Commission approved Standard Contractual Clauses.
 

 6. How long we keep personal data

We will retain information about you for as long as you submit information to us, and for the subsequent twelve (12) months.
 

 7. Your rights in relation to your personal data

You may have the following rights in relation to your personal data:

• the right to be informed about the personal data we collect, how your personal data is used and from whom we collect your personal data when we obtain it from other sources (all of which are set out in this notice);
• the right to access the personal data we keep about you;
• the right to request correction of inaccurate personal data we hold about you;
• the right to request the blocking or deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances;
• the right to request that we transfer elements of your data to you or to another service provider;
• the right to object to the processing of your personal data by us ((1) if and when we have a legitimate interest to do so, as set out in Section 3, but your rights override ours based on your particular situation (which you need to explain to us) ), (2) if and when we process it for direct marketing purposes, or (3) because we make decisions by automated means that have a legal impact or other equally serious impact on you); and
• the right to withdraw your consent for the processing activities which we only carry out with that consent, as stated in Section 3.

You will only benefit from some of the above rights in limited circumstances, which depend on the legal reason for the collection of your personal data.

If you would like to exercise any of the above rights or if you have any questions regarding your rights, please contact us using the details below.
 

8. Contact details

If you have any privacy-related questions or concerns, please contact Centrica's data protection officer by writing to The Data Protection Officer, Centrica Plc, Millstream, Maidenhead Road, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 5GD.

You can also contact our data protection officer at privacy@centrica.com.