You're trying out a pre-release version of Energy Helper. Beta testers help us catch bugs and shape the app before launch. This note explains what data we collect from beta testers specifically, why, and how to control or remove it.
For all other privacy matters (general account use, smart-meter data, partner reporting, etc.), our main Privacy Policy applies — see §1.5 of that policy for a summary of how the beta programme fits in.
Who is processing your data
The data controller is BRAKKN LTD (trading as Energy Helper), a company registered in England and Wales. The Energy Helper mobile application is published by Energy Helper App Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Brakkn Ltd; BRAKKN LTD remains the data controller for your data regardless of which entity publishes the app.
The Data Protection Officer for Energy Helper is Jon Fletcher, reachable at jon@helper.energy.
What we collect from beta testers
Feedback you submit
When you tap the floating feedback tab, we record the type (bug, suggested improvement, or something else), the screen you were on, the message you write, and — if you keep the screenshot checkbox ticked — a screenshot of the screen you were on.
The feedback record is stored in our database (held for 12 months) and a copy of the report is created in our customer support system (Freshdesk), so the team can triage it.
If your feedback is a bug report, a corresponding tracking issue is also created in our private engineering issue tracker on GitHub, containing the same content (your message, the screen route, the screenshot if you attached one). The repository is private — only the Energy Helper engineering team has access. Reports that aren't bug reports (improvements, other) are not mirrored to GitHub.
Screenshots are uploaded via a temporary S3 storage bucket which auto-deletes within 36 hours; the durable copy of the screenshot lives in Freshdesk and in any GitHub issue created from the report.
Technical telemetry from the app
When the app crashes or hits an error, we send the error details to our error- tracking service (Sentry, EU region). This is automatic and applies to all users of Energy Helper, not just beta testers. We never send your feedback message body or screenshot to this service. Held for 30 days.
Session Replay (optional)
If you turn this on in your privacy settings, when you submit a bug report we'll attach a short recording of the previous 60 seconds of your screen so we can see what was happening when you hit the problem. Form contents and any text on screen are masked — we see the layout and your clicks, not what you typed. Off by default. With it off, bug reports still work — we just won't have the visual context, so debugging may take longer. Recordings are held for 30 days.
Session Replay is currently being rolled out — if the toggle is not yet visible in your app, Session Replay is off for your account. We will email you when the toggle becomes available.
Legal basis for each
| What | Basis |
|---|---|
| Feedback content, screenshots, GitHub-issue mirroring | Legitimate interest — running a beta programme and improving the product based on tester feedback |
| Error telemetry | Legitimate interest — keeping the service working |
| Session Replay | Consent — you explicitly opt in via your privacy settings |
You can object to legitimate-interest processing at any time (see "How to control or remove your data" below). For Session Replay, withdrawing consent disables it immediately.
Where your data is stored
- Our own database and feedback screenshots S3 bucket: UK (eu-west-2, London).
- Freshdesk (ticket system): EU/UK region.
- Sentry (error tracking and Session Replay): EU region (Frankfurt).
- GitHub (engineering issue tracker): USA. We rely on Standard Contractual Clauses for the transfer; the GitHub repository is private.
Who sees this data
Only Energy Helper team members involved in triaging beta feedback have access to your feedback submissions. Bug reports may also be turned into engineering tasks (in our private GitHub repository) so the right person can fix them.
We do not share beta-tester data with partners. If you joined the beta through your employer (e.g., Big Clean Switch) or another partner organisation, the partner does not see what you submit through the floating feedback tab. Your feedback is for Energy Helper only.
How to control or remove your data
Toggle Session Replay at any time in Settings → Privacy → Session Replay (once available).
Re-read this note at any time at /legal/beta-privacy or via Settings → Privacy → Beta Privacy.
Withdraw from the beta and delete your data by emailing jon@helper.energy. We will:
- Confirm receipt within 1 working day.
- Delete your feedback reports, screenshots, and any associated error events and session replays.
- Remove your beta membership from your account (your main Energy Helper account is unaffected unless you also ask us to delete that separately).
- Confirm completion.
Your rights
You have the same rights over this beta-related data as you do over any personal data we process — access, rectification, erasure ("right to be forgotten"), restriction, portability, and objection. The beta-specific data items above are subject to the same rights regime described in the main Privacy Policy.
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your data, you have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner's Office (the supervisory authority for the UK):
- Website: ico.org.uk
- Helpline: 0303 123 1113
- Address: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF
We'd appreciate the chance to address your concern first — but you can complain directly to the ICO without contacting us if you prefer.
Things we don't do
- We don't send your feedback message body or screenshot to our error-tracking service (Sentry).
- We don't share beta-tester data with Big Clean Switch or any other partner organisation.
- We don't use your beta feedback for marketing or advertising.
- We don't use third-party product analytics vendors (PostHog, Mixpanel, Amplitude, etc.).
Questions
Email jon@helper.energy. The Data Protection Officer for Energy Helper is also Jon Fletcher.