Pacific Power warns of phone scam targeting customers

Pacific Power warned its customers and the public Friday of a phone scam targeting customers where criminals pose as company customer service agents trying to extort money for new electric meters.

Customers will not be charged for the new meters. Pacific Power announced last week that it would install new smart meters beginning in 2018. Any customer ever receiving a call asking for money should hang up and instead call Pacific Power’s customer service line at 1-888-221-7070 .

Pacific Power call center agents can be reached any time day or night, toll free at 1-888-221-7070 . That is the only number to call for any customer service you need or if you suspect a call may not actually be from Pacific Power.

“So far, these calls have gone out to a relatively small number of customers, and we do not know of any customers who have actually sent the scammers money. But we want to make sure no one falls prey to this scam,” said Barb Coughlin, vice president of customer service.

Utility spokesman Tom Gauntt said that while the meter-charge phone scam has been going on for years, it may have picked up with the recent announcement that the utility will be moving its customers to “smart meters” in two to three years. But he stressed that there will be no charge for that changeover.