Callers pretending to be utility company asking for payment

Portland General Electric (PGE) residential and business customers are being targeted by a telephone scam in which customers are being contacted via telephone by someone claiming to be with PGE and saying the customer is past due on their account and they need to pay immediately or their power will be disconnected. Many of the targeted customers are not past due.

The customers are directed to purchase a pre-paid credit card and call the person back with the credit card number or the person calls back to get the number. PGE has received dozens of calls from residential and business customers during the past several weeks and is working with authorities on the matter.

If a customer believes they are being targeted by this scam, they should report it to PGE customer service at 503-228-6322 or 800-542-8818 and contact their local police department immediately. If a PGE customer is past due on their electric bill, they will be notified in two ways before service is disconnected:

  • A written notice on PGE letterhead 15 days and five days before disconnection with information on the different ways to pay their bill.
  • Automated phone calls 15 days and five days before disconnection that connects them with an automated system that can take payment. All incoming calls are identified on caller ID as PGE customer service.

PGE residential customers never receive phone calls from a live person asking for payment. Rarely does PGE call its business customers directly. All telephone payments are completed through an automated service. If a customer questions the authenticity of a call asking for payment, PGE encourages customers to hang up the phone and call customer service.

PGE customers can pay their bills at PortlandGeneral.com, on the mobile site through their smart phone, by text, through an automated system on the phone, through the mail, or by visiting one of the company’s seven community offices.

If a customer is having trouble paying their bill, PGE urges them to contact customer service right away. PGE can arrange a payment plan or connect the customer with energy assistance programs.

About Portland General Electric Company: Portland General Electric, headquartered in Portland, Ore., is a fully integrated electric utility that serves approximately 828,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Oregon. Visit our website at PortlandGeneral.com.