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National Grid Warns Rhode Island Customers of Continuing Payment Scam

National Grid Warns Rhode Island Customers of Continuing Payment Scam

Utility Companies Report Incidents in Other Eastern States

 

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Providence, R.I. -- National Grid and the Office of the Rhode Island Attorney General are warning National Grid customers to beware of the latest on-going episode of utility billing scams. Earlier this month, the Attorney General’s office and National Grid’s Customer Contact Center received numerous calls from Rhode Island businesses saying they have been contacted by phone by individuals claiming to be from National Grid and advising the customers they have a past due balance on their utility bill. These scammers warn that service will be shut off immediately, unless the customer provides sensitive bank account or cash card information and agrees to make an immediate payment.

 

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A consumer warning was issued when the first scamming calls were received, but more Rhode Island customer complaints about the calls have been received since that time. Electric utility companies in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Alabama have also reported similar incidents in recent weeks.

 

National Grid does contact customers with past due balances by phone to offer payment options, but never demands direct payment over the telephone.  If customers wish, they can arrange for a payment by check, credit card or debit card if they speak directly to a customer service representative.  Payment can also be made by credit card or debit card without a representative’s assistance.  Customers who have received calls demanding immediate payment and are asked for bank account information should contact National Grid immediately. To verify information and for any billing-related questions in New England, customers should call National Grid’s Customer Contact Center at 1-800-322-3223. 

 

NATIONAL GRID

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society - to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and developing an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century. National Grid holds a vital position at the center of the energy system and it ‘joins everything up’.

 

In the northeast US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles. In Great Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country. 

 

National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. It manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation, providing power to over one million LIPA customers. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

 

For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com

 

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