Last Updated: March 9, 2026

At French Broad Electric Membership Corporation (FBEMC), we believe your privacy is a fundamental part of the service we provide. As a member-owned cooperative, we are committed to being transparent about how we collect, use, and protect your information across our electric and fiber services.

1. Information We Collect

To provide effective utility services, we collect information through two primary channels:

• Information You Provide: This includes contact details (name, address, email, and phone), payment information for billing, and sensitive identifiers such as Social Security Numbers or Driver’s License numbers used strictly for identity verification and credit assessments.

• Information Collected Automatically: When you interact with our website or mobile apps, we automatically gather technical data such as your IP address, device type, browser information, and “cookies” that help us remember your preferences and analyze site traffic.

2. How We Use Your Information

Your data is used solely for cooperative operations, including:

• Operational Necessity: For billing, managing your account, and maintaining the electric and fiber infrastructure.

• Member Communication: To send outage updates, safety alerts, billing reminders, and cooperative news.

• System Improvements: To analyze grid load and network performance so we can better serve the community.

3. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

French Broad EMC does not sell your personal information to third parties. We only share your data with trusted service providers who perform essential work on our behalf, such as payment processors or line maintenance contractors. These partners are contractually obligated to maintain strict confidentiality and may only use your information to fulfill the specific tasks we have assigned to them. We may also disclose information when required by law, such as responding to a subpoena, or when necessary to protect the safety of our members, our employees, and the general public. In some cases, as is standard in the utility industry, we may share account data with credit reporting agencies as permitted by law.

4. Mobile Communications and SMS Privacy

By providing us with a mobile phone number, you opt-in to receive service-related communications, including automated text messages for outage notifications or billing alerts. We respect your privacy and want to be clear: FBEMC will not share your mobile information or SMS opt-in consent with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Your consent to receive texts is used exclusively to facilitate the utility and fiber services you have requested from the cooperative. If you should ever decide to opt-out of SMS communications then reply to any message from us with the text STOP.

5. Data Security

We employ a comprehensive suite of administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, including encryption, training and restricted access controls, to protect your sensitive data and comply with the North Carolina Identity Theft Protection Act. However, please be aware that no security system is completely fail-safe. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security during transmission or storage. By using our digital services, you acknowledge that you provide your information at your own risk and understand that no digital environment is entirely immune to unauthorized access.

6. Children’s Privacy and Member Rights

Our digital platforms are not intended for use by children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If we discover such information has been gathered, we will take immediate action to delete it. Furthermore, we believe you should have control over your data. You may review and update your account information at any time through our member portal or by contacting us by phone or email. You also have the right to choose your communication preferences, such as opting for paperless billing or managing how you receive cooperative updates.

7. Contact Us

If you have questions regarding this policy or how your data is handled, please reach out:

French Broad EMC
Attn: Privacy Inquiries
3043 NC 213 Hwy.
Marshall, NC 28753
Phone: (828) 649-2051
Email: privacy@frenchbroademc.com