Burns warns residents of possible electricity scams

Rep. Frank Burns    March 20, 2013

HARRISBURG, March 20 – State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria/Somerset, said he wanted to warn his constituents to be alert to the possibility of aggressive and dishonest sales pitches with regard to switching electricity companies.

"Questionable door-to-door and telephone solicitations have occurred in several Pennsylvania communities, so everyone should be diligent and know what to do to protect oneself from these aggressive scammers," Burns said.

Burns offered the following helpful tips to avoid these scams while at the same time protecting oneself if deciding to switch energy providers.

For door-to-door sales

  • Utilities do not normally come to the door, unless they have been called.
  • Ask solicitors for identification.
  • Call the utility company to verify if they have a salesman in the area – especially if the person claims to be a utility representative needing to get inside a home. Supplier representatives are required to prominently display a photo ID showing their name and the name of the supplier for whom they are working.
  • Suppliers will only need account information when a person is ready to make the switch.

For telephone sales:

  • Ask for the name of the supplier.
  • Ask for the price and other terms and conditions. Know and understand how it compares to the current utility price.
  • Only share account information over the phone if one is ready to make a switch.
  • Do not feel pressured to make any decisions over the phone or immediately.

More information on switching electric providers may be found with the Office of Consumer Advocate, www.oca.state.pa.us and the Public Utility Commission, www.puc.state.pa.us, while information about consumer protection is available from the Office of Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection, www.attorneygeneral.gov.

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