EEI’s member companies—America’s investor-owned electric companies—are working around the clock to keep the lights on and to help their customers and employees stay safe and healthy throughout the COVID-19 or coronavirus pandemic. They have activated their pandemic response plans and are focused on ensuring the safety of customers, communities, and crews. We are committed to powering through this crisis together.

Helping Our Customers and Communities

These examples of how EEI member companies in the United States and across the world are helping the customers and communities they serve, the first responders and healthcare workers who are on the frontlines, and their own employees who need extra support and resources during the COVID-19 crisis.

#STOPSCAMS

Covid-19 Scam Alert

Many electric company customers throughout the country are being targeted by impostor utility scams. Unfortunately, scammers take advantage of opportunities such as holidays, natural disasters, and other disruptive scenarios when households are otherwise preoccupied. Customers should be on the lookout for suspicious emails, phone calls, or persons impersonating business employees or charitable organizations.

A few scams seen during the COVID-19 crisis:

  • Threat to disconnect: The utility or government representative impostor aggressively tells the customer his or her account is overdue and service will be disconnected if immediate payment is not made.
  • Payment due for meter: The caller or in-person scammer instructs the customer to pay with cash or a prepaid debit card to cover the costs of a new meter or a meter upgrade.
  • Request for info: The caller insists that a recent payment was not completed and asks the customer to make a false payment using a prepaid debit card or by providing personal account information.
  • Door-to-door impostors: The impostor poses as a utility worker at the door asking for access to the home and for payment to inspect utility equipment.

For more information about how customers can protect themselves from common scams, visit Utilities United Against Scams at www.utilitiesunited.org

The electric power industry coordinates its efforts to plan for, prepare, and respond to all hazards—including a pandemic—that potentially could impact the energy grid with our partners at the highest levels of government through the CEO-led ESCC.