How to Avoid Electricity Scams in 2025 and Protect Yourself from Energy Fraud

$435

Median Loss per Victim

2024

BBB Report Year

Understanding Electricity Scams in 2025

🚨 Electricity scams cost consumers hundreds of millions of dollars annually, with the Better Business Bureau reporting median losses of $435 per victim in 2024. 📱 How scammers reach you:

🚪 Door-to-door visits
📞 Phone calls
✉️ Emails and text messages

In deregulated states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, the competitive electricity market creates opportunities for dishonest actors to exploit confused consumers. ⚠️ Common scam types:

🔄 Slamming — Unauthorized supplier switching
👤 Impersonation — Fake utility worker scams
📞 Threatening calls — Demanding payment to avoid disconnection

🛡️ Understanding how these scams work is your first defense against becoming a victim.

Door-to-Door Energy Scams

🚪 Door-to-door energy scams are among the most aggressive tactics used by fraudulent suppliers. Scammers typically dress professionally, sometimes in utility-style clothing. 🎭 Common excuses to see your bill:

📋 "We're verifying your account"
💰 "There's a special rate available"
🔍 "We're checking for billing errors"

🎯 The real goal is capturing your utility account number to switch your service without consent. 🚩 Warning signs of door-to-door scams:

🚫 Won't show proper identification
⏰ Pressure you to decide immediately
📄 Ask to see your bill
✨ Promises that seem too good to be true

💡 Remember: Legitimate suppliers never require same-day decisions and always provide written materials for review.

Never Show Your Bill

Legitimate suppliers never need to see your bill at the door. Your account number can be used to switch your service without permission. Always ask for written materials to review later.

Threatening Phone Call Scams

📞 Phone scammers impersonate utility companies and threaten immediate service disconnection unless you pay right away. 🎭 How phone scammers operate:

⏰ Create artificial urgency — "Your power will be shut off within one hour"
📱 Spoof caller ID to display your utility's name or phone number
💳 Demand payment immediately over the phone

✅ What real utilities do:

🚫 Never demand immediate payment over the phone
📬 Always send written notices before disconnection
📅 Never threaten same-day shutoffs for first-time issues

🛡️ If you receive a threatening call:

📵 Hang up immediately
📞 Call your utility directly using the number on your bill
✅ Verify your account status through official channels

🚨 Never provide payment information to unsolicited callers regardless of how legitimate they sound.

Verify Before You Pay

Utilities never demand immediate payment over the phone. Hang up and call your utility directly using the number on your bill or official website.

Slamming and Unauthorized Supplier Switching

🔄 Slamming occurs when a supplier switches your electricity service without your explicit authorization. ⚠️ How slamming happens:

✍️ Dishonest salespeople forge signatures
🎭 Misrepresent what you're signing
🔍 Use account information gathered through deceptive means

🚩 Signs you've been slammed:

❓ An unfamiliar company appears on your electricity bill
📬 You receive a confirmation letter from a supplier you never contacted
💰 Your rate suddenly changes without explanation

🛡️ If you've been slammed:

📞 Contact your utility immediately to report the unauthorized switch
📋 File complaints with PUCO, PA PUC, or MA DPU
📄 Document everything — save bills and correspondence

⚖️ State regulators can order the slamming company to return you to your previous supplier and credit any overcharges.

Payment Method Scams

💳 Scammers demand unusual payment methods that are difficult to trace or reverse. 🚩 Red flag payment requests:

🎁 Gift cards — Green Dot, iTunes, Google Play, etc.
💸 Wire transfers — Western Union, MoneyGram
🪙 Cryptocurrency — Bitcoin, etc.
💵 Cash payments — To individuals, not official offices

⚠️ Important: No legitimate utility or electricity supplier ever accepts gift cards as payment for electric bills. 🔒 Scammers prefer these methods because once money is sent, it's nearly impossible to recover. ✅ Legitimate payment methods:

💳 Credit cards through official channels
💳 Debit cards through official channels
📝 Checks mailed to official addresses
🏦 Bank transfers through utility websites

🚨 If anyone demands payment through gift cards or wire transfers, it's a scam — regardless of how convincing they sound or what threats they make.

Fake Utility Worker Scams

👤 Some scammers pose as utility workers needing access to your home for various reasons. 🎭 Common excuses used:

📊 Meter readings
🔧 Equipment inspections
⚡ Emergency repairs

They may wear official-looking uniforms, carry clipboards, and sound knowledgeable about electrical systems. 🚨 Once inside, scammers may:

💎 Steal valuables
📋 Gather personal information
🔧 Create fake emergencies to charge for repairs

✅ Legitimate utility workers:

🪪 Always carry company-issued photo identification
📅 Schedule appointments in advance for interior work
⏳ Will wait while you verify their identity

🛡️ Your right: You can call your utility directly to verify any worker's identity before allowing access. Never let someone inside based solely on their uniform or verbal claims.

Email and Text Message Phishing

✉️ Phishing scams arrive via email or text messages that appear to come from your utility or electricity supplier. 🎣 Common phishing claims:

⚠️ "There's a problem with your account"
💰 "You have an overdue payment"
🎁 "A special refund is available"

🔗 These messages include links to fake websites designed to steal:

🔑 Login credentials
📋 Personal information
💳 Payment details

🚫 What legitimate utilities won't do:

⏰ Send emails demanding immediate action
📱 Text threats of disconnection
🔗 Ask you to click links to avoid shutoff

🛡️ How to verify suspicious messages:

🚫 Don't click links in the email or text
🌐 Go directly to your utility's official website or app
🔐 Log in and check your account status
📢 Report phishing attempts to your utility

💡 When in doubt, delete the message and contact your utility through official channels.

Warning Signs Checklist

📋 Protect yourself by recognizing these universal scam warning signs. 🚩 Be suspicious if someone:

⏰ Demands immediate payment or decisions
⚡ Threatens disconnection without prior written notice
🎁 Requests gift cards or wire transfers
📄 Asks to see your utility bill
🚫 Refuses to provide written materials
✍️ Pressures you to sign without reading
🪪 Claims to be from utility but can't show proper ID
💰 Offers rates dramatically lower than market prices
📞 Contacts you unsolicited with "urgent" time-limited offers

🛡️ When in doubt:

🛑 End the conversation immediately
📞 Contact your utility directly using official numbers
⏳ Take time to verify — never rush decisions

💡 Taking time to verify protects you from costly mistakes.

Red Flags to Watch

Demands for immediate payment or decisions
Threats of immediate disconnection
Requests for gift cards or wire transfers
Asking to see your utility bill
Refusing to provide written materials

How to Verify Electricity Suppliers

🔍 Before signing up with any electricity supplier, verify their legitimacy through official channels. 📍 Official verification resources by state:

🌰 Ohio — Check PUCO's certified CRES suppliers at energychoice.ohio.gov
🔑 Pennsylvania — Verify EGS licenses at papowerswitch.com
🏛️ Massachusetts — Confirm licensing through the DPU website

✅ Safe rate comparison: ElectricRates.org only shows plans from state-licensed suppliers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts — eliminating the risk of fraudulent providers. 📋 Verification steps:

🔢 Ask any supplier for their license number
✅ Verify it matches state records
⭐ Check online reviews and Better Business Bureau ratings

🚩 Red flags to watch for: Companies that avoid verification questions or pressure you to skip this step should be avoided. Legitimate suppliers welcome verification requests and can provide license numbers immediately.

How to Report Electricity Scams

📢 If you encounter an electricity scam, reporting it protects you and other consumers. 📍 Where to report by state:

🌰 Ohio — PUCO at 1-800-686-7826
🔑 Pennsylvania — PA PUC at 1-800-692-7380
🏛️ Massachusetts — MA DPU at 1-877-886-5066

📋 Additional reporting options:

⚡ Your utility company — Report impersonators or suspicious activity
🏛️ Federal Trade Commission — ReportFraud.ftc.gov
⚖️ State Attorney General — Consumer protection division
⭐ Better Business Bureau — bbb.org/scamtracker

💡 Why reporting matters: The more reports filed, the faster authorities can investigate and stop scammers from victimizing others.

Frequently Asked Questions

My utility company called and threatened to shut off my power today. Is this real?

Almost certainly a scam. Utilities send multiple written notices before disconnection and never demand same-day payment over the phone. Hang up and call your utility directly using the number on your bill to check your account status.

A salesperson asked to see my electric bill. Should I show it?

Never show your electric bill to door-to-door salespeople. Your bill contains your account number, which scammers can use to switch your service without permission. Legitimate suppliers don't need to see your bill to make offers.

How can I tell if an electricity supplier is legitimate?

Verify suppliers through official state databases: PUCO's Apples to Apples for Ohio, PAPowerSwitch.com for Pennsylvania, or the MA DPU website for Massachusetts. Legitimate suppliers will provide license numbers you can verify independently.

Someone offered me a rate much lower than I'm paying now. Is it a scam?

Extremely low rates should raise suspicion. Check current market rates on your state's official comparison website. If an offer is significantly below market rates, it may be a scam, a teaser rate that increases dramatically, or have hidden fees.

I was slammed to a supplier I never signed up with. What do I do?

Contact your utility immediately to report the unauthorized switch. Request to be returned to your previous supplier. File complaints with your state regulator (PUCO, PA PUC, or DPU). You're entitled to refunds for any excess charges from the slamming company.

Can I call the police if someone tries to scam me?

Yes, especially if the scammer is at your door or making threats. You can also report scams to your local police, state Attorney General, FTC, and Better Business Bureau. Multiple reports help authorities track and stop scammers.

About the author

Enri Zhulati

Consumer Advocate

Enri has spent years helping Texans navigate the deregulated electricity market at ComparePower. He knows what confuses people about energy shopping and what actually helps them save. At ElectricRates.org, he brings that same expertise to Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

Electricity deregulationOhio Energy ChoicePennsylvania Power SwitchMassachusetts competitive suppliersPUCO regulations

Topics covered

electricity scams energy fraud door-to-door scams slamming fake utility consumer protection

Sources & References

FTC Consumer Advice - Imposter Scams (Federal Trade Commission): "Federal Trade Commission reports on utility impersonation and imposter scams"Accessed Feb 2025
PUCO - File a Complaint (Public Utilities Commission of Ohio): "PUCO handles slamming and cramming complaints against electricity suppliers"Accessed Feb 2025
BBB Scam Tracker (Better Business Bureau): "Better Business Bureau tracks energy scam reports and consumer alerts"Accessed Feb 2025
PA Office of Attorney General (Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General): "Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General consumer protection resources"Accessed Feb 2025

Last updated: December 10, 2025