PGE warns customers of deceptive utility scams

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Portland General Electric (PGE) wants customers to be aware of misleading practices and deceptive utility scams.

There are recent reports of individuals posing as utility workers using high-pressure tactics for home entry or immediate payment. This is one tactic scammers often use to deceive unsuspecting customers, including making misleading phone calls, texts, social media messages and emails.

PGE encourages customers to always ask to see a visitor’s employee badge, then call PGE (503-228-6322) to verify they are a PGE employee or contractor. PGE always provides multiple opportunities for payment in advance of service shutoffs.

Often these deceptive practices reported to PGE target residential customers, but businesses – especially small business owners – can also be at risk.

The following tips can help customers recognize and protect themselves against fraudulent activities:

• Verify the identity of in-person utility representatives. If it is a PGE employee, they will show a PGE badge and identification.

  • Call the police immediately if you suspect the person is an imposter. Call 911 if you are in physical danger.

• Be suspicious of urgent threats or pressuring language around bill disconnects or payment.

  • Scammers often rely on a victim’s uncertainty and panic over the prospect of a threatened power shutoff to pressure immediate payment.

  • Contact PGE customer service to verify account status and payment options if someone unexpectedly threatens immediate disconnection.

• PGE will never ask customers to pay their bill with a prepaid card, digital payment apps, cryptocurrencies or direct transactions with banking institutions.

  • Register online or download the PGE mobile app to check account status and verify approved methods of payment. PGE representatives will never contact customers and ask for sensitive personal information such as social security numbers or banking information.

• Don’t assume the name and number on caller ID are legitimate.

  • Call PGE directly to verify account information (503-228-6322), using the phone number on PGE monthly bill or from PGE’s website .

  • Do not use a number provided by an unexpected phone call or household visit from someone claiming to be a PGE representative.

• Be aware when clicking links in emails or texts.

  • Use caution when opening unexpected emails or texts asking for account information, bill payment or claiming to be directly from a PGE employee.

  • Double check links for authenticity before clicking on them, they may be part of a phishing campaign designed to obtain personal information.

If a customer thinks their information has been compromised or they have been victim to a scam related to a PGE account, report the incident to PGE at 503-228-6322.

For more information on how to stay safe from scams, visit PGE’s Fraud Alert webpage.

About Portland General Electric

Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is an integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to over 950,000 customers serving an area of 1.9 million Oregonians. Since 1889, Portland General Electric (PGE) has been powering social progress, delivering safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly clean electricity while working to transform energy systems to meet evolving customer needs. PGE customers have set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. PGE was ranked the No. 1 utility in the 2024 Forrester U.S. Customer Experience Index and is committed to reducing emissions from its retail power supply by 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. In 2024, PGE employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated $5.5 million and volunteered nearly 23,000 hours to more than 480 nonprofit organizations. For more information visit www.PortlandGeneral.com/news