SAN DIEGO, March 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- San Diego Gas
& Electric (SDG&E) is alerting customers to be aware of a
person or persons who have recently posed as utility employees
asking to enter a customer's home. It has been reported that the
imposter will distract unsuspecting customers while performing
"routine inspections," while another imposter burglarizes the
home.
SDG&E wants to assure all customers that SDG&E employees
carry proper identification when called out to any job and is
warning customers to verify the employee is wearing the proper
uniform and identification badge before letting anyone in their
home. If you are suspicious, please call SDG&E at 800-411-7343
to ensure that work is currently being conducted in your area.
Customer safety is a top priority and SDG&E is working to
make sure customers are equipped with the tips to help them
properly identify a SDG&E employee or contractor at any
time.
Here are some tips to help customers identify a SDG&E
employee:
- Make sure that everyone in question is wearing a
SDG&E-marked uniform.
- Ask any SDG&E employee to display a company identification
card.
- Ensure that they have arrived in a SDG&E-marked company
vehicle.
- Never leave the house if asked; SDG&E does not ask
customers to leave your house unattended.
- Note: SDG&E often hires contractors to complete smart meter
work or provide information on energy efficiency programs; however
contractors will never ask customers to leave their home for any
reason and also carry proper identification.
- If you have not called to request service or are not expecting
a visit from SDG&E, please make sure proper identification is
requested.
- If you are suspicious, please call SDG&E at 800-411-7343 to
ensure that work is currently being conducted in your area.
- Here are some additional tips to keep in mind should you
receive a phone call from someone posing as a SDG&E
representative. Although there have not been recent reports of this
fraudulent activity, SDG&E wants to alert individuals and
businesses of this type of fraud through all communications
channels, including direct mailers, in an effort to prevent them
from becoming potential victims.
- SDG&E does not proactively contact customers and ask for
credit card information over the phone.
- SDG&E customers should not provide any financial
information by phone unless they have initiated the conversation.
SDG&E provides past due notices in writing before service is
shut-off for non-payment.
- If customers receive a phone call that makes them feel
uncomfortable, and they know they have an outstanding balance that
needs to be resolved, they should hang up and call SDG&E
directly at 800-411-7343.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and
reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4
million electric meters and 868,000 natural gas meters in
San Diego and southern
Orange counties. The utility's
area spans 4,100 square miles. SDG&E is committed to
creating ways to help customers save energy and money every
day. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a
Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San
Diego. Connect with SDG&E's Customer Contact Center at
800-411-7343, on Twitter (@SDGE) and Facebook.
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SOURCE San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)