Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
TERMS OF USE
Please check these Terms of Use frequently, as we may from time to time unilaterally amend the Terms of Use by posting revised language on the Web site. The most up-to-date version of these Terms of Use will always be available for your review on the Web site. Amendments will become effective at the time they are posted on the Web site. Your continued use of the Web site after amendments are posted will constitute your acceptance of such amendments.
We may at any time modify or discontinue any aspect or component of the Web site. If you breach any of these Terms of Use, we can terminate your right to use the Web site. Upon termination, you agree to immediately delete or destroy any downloaded or printed material obtained from the Web site.
1. General.
Through the Web site, we provide a variety of information and services to our customers. You may use this Web site solely for your own internal residential or internal business purposes and pursuant to these Terms of Use. You may not use this Web site for the purpose of competing with us. You may view and download material displayed on the Web site, provided that you retain all copyright, trademark, and other proprietary notices displayed on the materials.
2. User Accounts
a. The Web site will offer our customers a variety of functions and services, as described more fully below in Section 3 ("Services"). Many of the Services will involve information about customer accounts and other personal information. To protect your privacy, we may require that you establish one or more user accounts to access such Services ("User Account"). We reserve the unqualified right (i) to accept or decline to accept an application to open a User Account; (ii) to terminate any User Account; and (iii) to discontinue the provision of any Service related to such User Account.
b. In connection with opening your User Account, you will either designate or receive a user name and password or personal identification number that you can use to establish your identity when you sign in for and use certain Services. You agree (i) to provide accurate and complete information when opening a User Account; (ii) to update your information as necessary so that it remains accurate and complete; and (iii) not to impersonate any other person, operate under an alias, or otherwise conceal your identity.
c. The right to use the Services and functions of a User Account on the Web site is limited to you as the party enrolling and those authorized persons to whom you give your personal identification number or password. You are responsible for safeguarding your user name and password or personal identification number and agree to hold the Company harmless from any claims resulting from improper use of your password or personal identification number. You agree to be responsible for all acts or omissions with respect to access to or use of a User Account by any person using your password or personal identification number. Please notify us immediately by contacting a customer service representative at (800) 664-5963 if you believe that the security of your user name, personal identification number, or password has been compromised.
d. Information collected from you on this Web site (including information about your Company energy account and personal information) is subject to our Web site Privacy Policy [hotlink], which can be found at ong.com.
3. Services.
a. Business Area. Certain business customers of the Company will be able register as a natural gas supplier, retrieve information regarding natural gas suppliers, access industry bulletin boards and obtain information on economic development. To access these business information tools, business customers must enroll for a User Account with a personal identification number and password. This is not currently true
b. Residential Area. Residential customers of the Company will be able to access the following services in the Customer Service Online area of the Web site. Access to Customer Service area will require account information and a password or user identification number, which may be assigned by Company or selected by the customer, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion.
(1) Online Bill Payment. Residential customers of the Company will be able to pay their gas bills online by using the electronic bill payment service ("Payment Service") offered by Official Payments (“Offical Payments”). While utilizing the Payment Service, you will actually be on Official Payments’ servers, and will not be on the Web site. As a result, your use of the Payment Service will be subject to Offical Payments’ terms of use, and use of your personal information will be subject to Official Payments’ privacy policy. You should review both carefully before using the Payment Service, as the Company's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy do not apply to the Payment Service, and the Company is not responsible for the functionality or security of the Payment Service.
(2) Other Customer Services. Residential customers of the Company may also use the following Services, all of which are offered directly by the Company: (a) view their current Oklahoma Natural Gas bill; (b) view an energy comparison; (c) view account transaction history; (d) request information regarding budget payment plans; and (e) make certain service requests.
(3) Customer Energy Management. From time to time, Customers may also obtain from the Web site information about energy efficiency measures and energy conservation programs developed by or for the Company and available to the public.
c. COPPA. The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) protects the online privacy and personal information of children under thirteen (13) years of age. In compliance with COPPA, Company does not promote online to children, and does not intentionally collect any personally identifiable information from children under 13.
d. Merchant Information. The Web site may enable you to search for third party businesses selling gas-related goods and services in certain geographical locations. THE COMPANY IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY SUCH BUSINESSES, AND DOES NOT ENDORSE ANY SUCH BUSINESSES, GOODS, OR SERVICES.
e. Outside Services. From time to time, the Web site will enable you to access certain services provided by third party website operators. These services and the information they provide may contain errors and omissions. All such errors and omissions are subject to Section 7 concerning third party content ("Third Party Content"). The Company is not responsible for such errors or omissions, and shall not be liable for any harm, loss, or liability you suffer in reliance on either these outside services or any information they provide. The Company is also not responsible for the functionality, reliability, or the security of these services. As discussed below, when you access some of these outside services, please be aware that you will actually be on a third party Web site, even though it may appear that you are still browsing the Web site.
4. Copyrights.
All content on the Web site, including all text, graphics, artwork, logos, buttons, icons, images, audio clips, video clips, software, and code, is the copyrighted property of the Company or other content suppliers and is protected by U.S. and foreign copyright laws and international conventions. The compilation of all content on this Web site is the exclusive property of the Company and may be protected by U.S. and foreign copyright laws and international conventions. Any unauthorized use of materials on this Web site may violate copyright laws, trademark laws, the laws of privacy and publicity, and communications regulations or statutes. Excepts as allowed in these Terms of Use, such content may not be reproduced, modified, edited, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted, sold, or transmitted (in whole or in part) in any form or by any means, including but not limited to electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the express prior written permission of the Company or the other copyright owner, as the case may be.
5. Trademarks.
a. The trademarks, service marks, logos, graphics, page headers, button icons, scripts, domain names, URLs, and other identifiers ("Trademarks") used and displayed on this Website are registered and unregistered Trademarks of the Company and others in the United States and other countries. No display or use of such Trademarks may be made without the express prior written permission of the Company or other Trademark owner, as the case may be. You may not use any meta tags or any other "hidden text" utilizing the Company's name or Trademarks without the express prior written permission of the Company.
b. If you believe that material included on this Web site infringes another party's trademark rights, contact us promptly so that we may investigate the situation and, if appropriate, block or remove the material.
6. Linking, Framing, Bots, and Spiders.
a. Links to Third Party Sites. The Web site may from time to time display links to Web sites or electronic services sponsored by third parties. If you click on one of these links (for example, the Payment Service), you will leave this Web site and go to the website of the third party. In addition, in some cases, if you request certain content appearing on the Web site, you may be taken to a third party's Web site actually hosting the content. In some cases, the third party's content may be "framed" in such a way that it may appear you are still on the Web site. The Company is not responsible for the content or operation of third-party Web sites or electronic services reached by virtue of such links or content, and the presence of such links or content does not imply that the Company endorses or is affiliated with such Web sites, services, or third parties, or any services or products offered therein or thereby
b. Links to the Web site. Third parties are not authorized to include active links on Web sites they control directing a browser to the Web site's "home page" at www.ong.com without the express written consent of the Company. We do not authorize "deep linking" to interior pages on the Web site. The Web site may not be linked to in such a way that the pages of the Web site are displayed within a frame on a third-party Web site, or are otherwise displayed on a browser screen accompanied by advertising or other content not found on the Web site. The fact that a third party provides a link to the Web site will not in any way be or imply an endorsement, agency, joint venture, or similar relationship between the Company and any such third party.
c. Mining. No user or third party is authorized to use any software, bots, spiders, or other information-gathering devices or programming routines to monitor, copy, or otherwise "mine" information displayed on the Web site for display on or use with any Web site or service.
7. Third Party Content.
The Company displays and distributes content, information, and certain Services on the Web site supplied by third parties (including, but not limited to, the Payment Service). The submitting third parties, and not the Company, are solely responsible for any advertisements, opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, data, information, content, or other materials that such third parties express or make available ("Third Party Content"). The Company does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, availability, quality, or usefulness of any Third Party Content, and under no circumstances shall the Company be liable in any way for Third Party Content, or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of Third Party Content being posted or otherwise transmitted through the Web site or in connection with any of the Services.
8. User Conduct. While using the Web site or any Service, you may not:
a. retransmit, republish, distribute, reuse, resell, repost, re-engineer, or make multiple copies of the Web site or any portion thereof without our prior written consent;
b. upload, post, publish, transmit, reproduce, or distribute through the Web site any material that infringes any third party's copyright, patent, trademark, service mark, trade dress, trade secret, or other proprietary rights, or which violates any contractual, fiduciary, or judicially-imposed nondisclosure obligations;
c. engage in conduct, during use of the Web site, that is unlawful, threatening, harassing, abusive, fraudulent, defamatory, libelous, or invasive of the privacy or publicity rights of others;
d. upload, post, publish, transmit, reproduce or distribute through this Web site any material that contains advertising solicitations, bulk unsolicited emails or spam, chain letters, pyramid opportunities, or offers for the sale of goods or services;
e. upload, post, publish, transmit, reproduce, or distribute through this Web site, or place any links on this Web site to, any material that is vulgar, obscene, profane, hateful, sexually explicit, or otherwise objectionable;
f. alter, interfere, or disrupt the content or functioning of the Web site or the Company's service, including but not limited to uploading, posting, or transmitting any material that (a) contains viruses, Trojan horses, worms, time bombs, cancelbots, or other computer programming routines that damage, interfere with, capture, intercept, or expropriate the Website or any data contained therein; or (b) disproportionately burdens the operation of the Web site;
g. use the Web site to gain unauthorized entry or access to User Accounts or other computer systems or networks;
h. "mirror" the Web site or any of its content on any other server without the express prior written permission of the Company;
i. impersonate any person or entity, falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity, forge headers, or otherwise manipulate identifiers in order to disguise the origin of any content that you post or otherwise transmit to us or via the Web site; or
j. upload, post, publish, transmit, reproduce or distribute through this Web site any material that encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any law, regulation, or government order.
9. Termination.
In the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, the Company may, without notice, restrict or terminate any person's use of the Web site and any Service, User Accounts, user names, passwords or personal identification numbers. Upon termination, you agree to immediately delete or destroy any downloaded or printed material obtained from the Web site. Any such restriction or termination will not relieve any person of obligations incurred and accrued prior to the effective date of such restriction or termination.
10. Disclaimer of Warranties.
a. The Web site and any content, information, software, functions, and applets provided on or through the Web site are made available on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis. The Company does not warrant that the Web site or any content or Service provided in connection with the Web site will be timely, secure, uninterrupted, or error-free, or that defects in the Web site or in any content or Service provided on or through the Web site, if any exist from time to time, will be corrected. The Company will not be responsible for errors, omissions, interruptions, deletions, defects, or delays in the operation or transmission of the Web site or any Services or related content, for communication line failures, or for computer viruses associated with the operation of the Web site. The Company makes no warranty regarding any information made available through or on the Web site, or the accuracy thereof. THE COMPANY MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE WEB SITE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WARRANTIES OF TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF THIS WEB SITE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK.
b. No Company employee, agent, representative, or any third party is authorized to create any warranty not expressly made in these Terms of Use.
11. Limitation of Liability.
THE COMPANY, ITS AFFILIATES AND SUBSIDIARIES, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, SUCCESSORS, OR ASSIGNS, WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGES RESULTING FROM LOST DATA, LOST PROFITS, OR COSTS OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES) ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE WEBSITE OR ANY OF THE CONTENT OR SERVICES AVAILABLE ON OR THROUGH THE WEB SITE. IN NO EVENT WILL THE LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY, ITS AFFILIATES AND SUBSIDIARIES, OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, SUCCESSORS, OR ASSIGNS, UNDER ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE) EXCEED $500, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH PARTIES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. CERTAIN STATE LAWS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES. IF THESE LAWS APPLY TO YOU, SOME OR ALL OF THE DISCLAIMERS, EXCLUSIONS, OR LIMITATIONS IN SECTION 10 ("DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES") AND THIS SECTION 11 ("LIMITATION OF LIABILITY") MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU, AND YOU MIGHT HAVE ADDITIONAL RIGHTS.
12. Indemnity.
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, successors, or assigns from any and all claims, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' and experts' fees) arising in any way from your use of the Web site or the placement or transmission of any message, information, software, or other materials or content on or through the Web site by you or users of your User Account or related to any violation of these Terms of Use by you or users of your User Account.
13. Other.
a. The Company controls and operates this Web site from its headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. If you use this Web site from other locations you are responsible for compliance with applicable local laws. These Terms of Use will be governed by the substantive laws of the State of Oklahoma, as applied to contracts entered into between Oklahoma residents and performed in Oklahoma, regardless of whether you reside or transact business with the Company in Oklahoma or elsewhere. Use of this Web site will be deemed to take place solely in Oklahoma. You agree that the courts located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will have exclusive jurisdiction over any and all disputes arising out of or related to these Terms of Use or your use of the Web site, and that you will submit to the jurisdiction of such court. The prevailing party in any dispute will be entitled to its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, in addition to all other available recovery and relief.
b. If any provision of these Terms of Use is held to be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision will be deemed severable and will not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.
c. The Terms of Use, which incorporates by reference the Company's Web site Privacy Policy [hotlink], state the entire agreement between you and the Company relating to your use of the Web site, and all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter of these Terms of Use are superseded by and merged into these Terms of Use. These Terms of Use may not be amended except by Company as provided at the beginning of these Terms of Use.
Privacy Policy
Your use of this Web site shall be governed by the Web site Terms of Use, see below, and this privacy policy. Any capitalized terms used herein which are not otherwise defined shall have the meaning set forth in the Web site Terms of Use. These privacy terms and conditions describe the policy of Oklahoma Natural Gas Company, a division of ONEOK, Inc. (hereafter referred to as “we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”) with respect to information received about you during visits to our Web site. The amount and type of information received depends on how you use the Web site. These privacy provisions apply solely to Company's online information collection activities and are not applicable to information collection practices the Company may be engaged in outside of the www.oklahomanaturalgas.com site.
By using this site, you signify your consent to the Company’s Online Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to this policy, please do not use this Web site. We reserve the right to change any of the terms and conditions of Company's Online Privacy Policy at any time without notice.
No Representation or Warranty
Your confidential use of this Web site cannot be guaranteed by the Company. The Company is not responsible for any harm that you or any person may suffer as a result of a disclosure of confidentiality in respect to your use of this Web site or any information you transmit to this Web site.
Normal Web Site Usage
You can visit this Web site to review Company information without telling us who you are and without revealing any personal information. The only information we collect and store during normal Web site usage is the name of your Internet service provider, the browser (including available plug-ins and browser functionality) and type of machine you are using, the IP address, the Web site that referred you to us, the pages you request and the date and time of those requests.
We use this information to generate statistics and measure site activity to improve the usefulness of customer visits. During normal Web site usage, we do not collect or store personally identifiable information such as name, mailing address, e-mail address, phone number or social security number.
Collection of Personally Identifiable Information
There are instances where Company requests personally identifiable information to provide the Web site visitor a Service, information or correspondence (e.g. customer User Account information, bill pay services, and service requests). This information, such as name, mailing address, e-mail address, type of request and possibly additional information, is collected and stored by the Company in a manner appropriate to the nature of the data and is used to fulfill your request. The information you provide is used by the Company to improve the Services we provide you. It is never provided to any other company for that company's independent use. The Company will never sell your personal information to any other company. Also be sure to note other comments regarding use of information on specific pages within the Web site. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may share user information from time to time with affiliates and business partners in order to provide consistent Service, support and marketing to its existing and prospective customers.
Use of Cookies
Cookies are pieces of information that a Web site transfers to an individual's hard drive for record-keeping purposes so that we may track site and user activity. The use of cookies is an industry standard and you will find them at most major Web sites. By showing how and when visitors use the site, cookies help the Company to track those areas of our Web site that are popular and which areas are not. Many improvements and updates to the Web site are based on data such as total number of visitors and pages viewed.
Most browsers are initially set to accept cookies. If you'd prefer, you can set yours to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. However, it is possible that some parts of the Web site will not function properly if you do so. Also, we will not be able to recognize you as a visitor over time.
COPPA
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) protects the online privacy and personal information of children under 13 years of age. In compliance with COPPA, the Company does not promote online to children, and does not intentionally collect any personally identifiable information from children under 13.