Fair use of customer information.
(1) Customer information includes the customer's name, address, and telephone number.
(2) Companies must use customer information only for:
(a) Providing and billing for services the customer requests, either directly or through a contractor;
(b) Marketing new services or options to its customers; or
(c) Providing information to its customers.
(3) Any sale or release of customer information without the written permission of the customer is prohibited. The only exceptions to this rule are:
(a) Release of information to the commission to investigate or resolve complaints filed with the commission by a customer;
(b) Sharing nonpayment information with agencies the company engages to act as the company's agent in pursuing collection of past due accounts.
(4) Companies are allowed to collect and release customer information in aggregate form if the aggregated information does not allow any specific customer to be identified.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
80.01.040,
80.04.160, 81.68,030 [81.68.030], and
81.70.270. WSR 17-16-114 (Docket TC-161262, General Order R-590), § 480-30-456, filed 7/31/17, effective 8/31/17. Statutory Authority: RCW
80.01.040,
81.04.160,
81.12.050,
81.68.030, and
81.70.270. WSR 06-13-006 (General Order No. R-533, Docket No. TC-020497), § 480-30-456, filed 6/8/06, effective 7/9/06.]