COOKIES

This is the cookie policy for www.sse.com It applies to information collected and used by SSE which is a business unit of the SSE Group. When we refer to 'SSE', 'we', 'us', and 'our', we mean any of those SSE entities, as appropriate. This information is collected through instruments known as cookies and various other technologies, collectively referred to in this Cookie Policy as 'cookies'.

View Cookie Settings here. Please review this Cookie Policy and our Privacy Notice here.

What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files transferred and stored by your web browser to your computer or mobile device when you visit or use a website. Cookies allow websites to recognise your device and store some information about your preferences or past actions.

Cookies can be considered as 'first party' or 'third party' cookies depending on the domain that places them. First party cookies are cookies set by a website visited by the user (for example, cookies placed by SSE for www.sse.com). Third party cookies are set by a domain other than that of the website visited by the user, so if a user visits a website and a third-party organisation sets a cookie through that website, this would be a third-party cookie.

Cookies can also be considered as 'persistent' or 'session' cookies depending on their duration. Persistent cookies remain on a user's device for the time specified in those cookies. They are activated every time that user visits the website that created the cookies, until the cookies expire or are disabled by the user. Session cookies allow the actions of a user to be linked during a single browsing session. A session starts when a user opens a browser window and ends when the browser window is closed, following which all session cookies are deleted.

Why do we use cookies?

We use cookies and other similar technologies to collect information about your browsing activity and about the device you have used to access our website (including the make, model and operating system, IP address, browser type and mobile device identifiers) so we can provide essential features and functionality on our website:

  • Make our website as easy and intuitive as possible for you to use
  • Monitor and analyse website usage and performance so we can measure the effectiveness of our website and improve it (including security)
  • Remember choices you make when visiting our website and recognise you when you return so you don't have to remind us
  • Remember certain information about your browsing activity on our website, such as the web pages you have viewed and your preferences. This information can then be used to personalise and improve the way you interact with our website (for example, displaying content we think might be relevant to you based on your previous activity) and inform you of special offers and promotions tailored to your interests (where you have consented to receiving marketing communications from us).

Why do we use cookies on this website? 

The cookies used on our website can be broken down into four categories:

  • Strictly necessary
  • Performance
  • Functional
  • Social sharing


Strictly necessary
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you that amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms.

You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but then some parts of the site will not work.

Performance
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve site performance. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to monitor its performance.

Functional
These Cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages.

If you do not allow these Cookies some or all of these services may not function properly.


Managing cookies
When you visit our websites, you will be presented with a cookie banner. It gives you the choice to accept the use of cookies on the site or not. It will also present you with a link to our cookie manager. Through the cookie manager, you can choose to opt-in or opt-out of the types of cookies active on our sites. You can also find out a bit more about what we use them for. Our cookie manager will only remember your preferences for our site for the specific browser that you're using at that time.

You can also manage your cookie preferences at any time via this link: Cookie Settings

If you wish to change your cookie settings generally, you can delete cookies stored on your computer or change your privacy settings at any time via your browser settings.

  • Internet Explorer
  • Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Safari
  • Opera

Cookie List

Strictly necessary

Cookie name

Cookie Description

Default expiration time

Host

UCONTEXT_C

These cookies only apply to the website management team.  These are general purpose session cookies. An example of how these are used would be to maintain a logged in status between pages.

Session
(10 minutes)

SSE

UMB_UCONTEXT

These cookies only apply to the website management team.  These are general purpose session cookies. An example of how these are used would be to maintain a logged in status between pages.

Session
(10 minutes)

SSE

XSRF-V

This cookie stores a token that prevents malicious attacks on the website or those that seek to exploit an authentic user’s access for their own gain.

Session
(10 minutes)

SSE

XSRF-TOKEN

This cookie stores a token that prevents malicious attacks on the website or those that seek to exploit an authentic user’s access for their own gain.

Session
(10 minutes)

SSE

useCookies

This cookie confirms you have accepted our cookie policy

1 year

SSE

 

Performance

Cookie name

Cookie Description

Default expiration time

Host

_ga *

This cookie gives a user a unique ID which helps identify if you are new to the site.

2 years

Google Analytics

_gid

This cookie lets us count visits and traffic so we can measure and improve site performance. It help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site.

1 day

Google Analytics

_gat

This cookie lets us slow down the speed of information being sent to Google Analytics.  We use Google Analytics to help us improve our website performance.

10 minutes

Google Analytics

Functional

Cookie name

Cookie Description

Default expiration time

Host

vuid

We embed videos from our official Vimeo channel. When you press play, Vimeo will drop third party cookies to enable the video to run and to collect analytical data such as how long a viewer has watched the video. These cookies do not track individuals.

20 days

Vimeo

Social Sharing

Cookie name

Cookie Description

Default expiration time

Host

__atuvc

AddThis sets this cookie to ensure that the updated count is seen when one shares a page and returns to it, before the share count cache is updated.

13 months

AddThis

__atuvs

AddThis sets this cookie to ensure that the updated count is seen when one shares a page and returns to it, before the share count cache is updated.

30 minutes

AddThis

at-rand

AddThis sets this cookie to track page visits, sources of traffic and share counts.

never

AddThis

loc

AddThis sets this geolocation cookie to help understand the location of users who share the information.

13 months

AddThis

uvc

Set by addthis.com to determine the usage of addthis.com service.

13 months

AddThis

uid

Recognise a visitor when they return to the site.

1 year

AddThis

na_id

Set by addthis.com to store user usage history.

13 months

AddThis

mus

Set by addthis.com to provide functions across pages.

1 year

AddThis

ouid

Set by addthis.com to store a unique user id.

1 year

AddThis

 

Who should I contact with a question or a complaint?

If you would like to contact us in relation to your rights or if you are unhappy with how we've handled your information, you may contact us by sending a letter to:

Corporate Affairs – SSE
Inveralmond House
200 Dunkeld Road
Perth, Scotland
PH1 3AQ

or sending an email to [email protected]


If you would like to contact our Data Protection Officer, you may do so using the following details:

Email: [email protected]

This policy was last updated in June 2020.