Eversource to Granbys Customers: Beware of More Electricity Scams

Eversource Energy officials on Thursday said business and residential customers are continuing to get calls and visits from individuals claiming to be “representatives” or “partners” of Eversource.

They are scams, or competitors utility officials said.

The scammers are using "aggressive marketing tactics" to sell “discounted power” or threatening to turn off electricity unless an immediate payment is made, Eversource officials said

"The company is warning customers to be cautious. These individuals are not affiliated with Eversource in any capacity and are most likely either scammers or third-party suppliers choosing to use deceptive marketing tactics," Eversourse officials said

Eversource rarely makes unsolicited phone calls and would never solicit door-to-door on behalf of a competitive supplier, utility officials said.

All Eversource employees carry company-issued identification, and any electrical contractors working with the company carry documentation explaining the nature and location of their work, utility officials said.

“We’re hearing from thousands of our customers who continue to be negatively impacted by these dishonest solicitations,” said Penni Conner, senior vice president and chief customer officer at Eversource. “We urge any customer who feels they have been targeted by deceptive marketers or are the victim of a scam to contact us immediately. Every concern is logged and passed along to state regulators.”

The Better Business Bureau has received "many" complaints about misleading or high-pressure tactics used by salespeople for some competitive energy suppliers,” said Howard Schwartz, executive communications director for the BBB.

“We urge all consumers, especially the elderly and those whose primary language is other than English, to proceed with extreme caution," he saoid. "We also encourage customers to verify an energy supplier is registered with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority - PURA - before contracting for service. The bottom line is that one should avoid doing business at the front door or over the telephone unless you initiate the call.”

As part of the scam warning, Eversourse officials said:

• Never provide a copy of a utility bill or account information to any unsolicited person on the phone, at the door, or online, particularly if there is a question of legitimacy.
• Customers can verify they are speaking with an Eversource representative by asking for some basic information about their account like the name on the account, the account address, and the exact balance due.
• Those feeling uncomfortable should close the door or hang up the phone.

Eversource said anyone who believes he or she is a target of improper solicitation to call 800-286-2000. The company tracks customer concerns and reports them to state regulators, utility officials said.

Photo Credit: Eversource