Le Lézard
Classified in: Oil industry
Subjects: PSF, FVT

Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas join forces with utilities nationwide to shut down scammers and protect customers


CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nov. 15 marks the second annual Utility Scam Awareness Day, with natural gas and electric utility companies across the United States and Canada joining forces to inform customers and protect them from imposter utility scams. By sharing information and working together, Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS), is arming customers with the knowledge to spot scams and protect their information.

New Duke Energy logo. (PRNewsFoto/Duke Energy)

As part of the UUAS collaboration, communications are planned with customers during the week of Nov. 13 through the website, newsletters, email, bill messages, video, media, advertising and social media content.

"While Duke Energy customers have become nearly 50 percent less susceptible to scams since the formation of UUAS in 2016, scams continue to evolve," said Jared Lawrence, vice president of meter services and Piedmont Natural Gas operations, and executive chairman of Utilities United Against Scams. "By knowing what to look for, customers can continue to shut down scammers and protect their wallets and personal information."

Scammers posing as utility representatives use a variety of email, in-person and phone tactics to target families and businesses to steal money. According to Hiya, a phone spam protection company, utility scams grew 109 percent in 2016.

"In partnership with UUAS over the past six months, we've shut down more than 500 toll-free numbers running utility scams, making it more difficult for scammers to victimize customers of Duke Energy and other participating utilities," said Joel Bernstein, vice president of regulatory and public policy at Somos, which administrates toll-free numbers.

Common scam tactics

How to protect yourself

Duke Energy works closely with law enforcement and local attorneys general and business organizations to denounce scams and help protect communities.

For more information on how to spot a utility scam and protect personal information, visit duke-energy.com/StopScams and watch our "How to Spot a Scam" video.

Duke Energy

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company's Gas Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States.

Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com

The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online destination for stories about people, innovations, and community and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into the past and insights into the future of energy.

About Piedmont Natural Gas

Piedmont Natural Gas, a North Carolina corporation, is an energy services company whose principal business is the distribution of natural gas to more than a million residential, commercial, industrial and power generation customers in portions of North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Piedmont provides a foundation for establishing a broader strategic natural gas infrastructure platform within Duke Energy to supplement and complement the previous natural gas pipeline investments and the natural gas business located in the Midwest.

24-Hour: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy


These press releases may also interest you

at 11:00
American Bureau of Shipping, CALAMCO, Fleet Management Limited, Sumitomo Corporation and TOTE Services, LLC ("TOTE Services") today announced the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly conduct a feasibility study (hereinafter...

at 10:43
NATSO, representing America's travel plazas and truck stops, and SIGMA: America's Leading Fuel Marketers, issued the following statement in response to the Biden Administration's Heavy-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Regulations and Standards Final Rule....

at 09:07
Olympus announced today that it has been awarded a contract for its advanced energy portfolio by Provista Inc. This new, nationwide agreement provides Provista members with negotiated pricing for Olympus® energy products, including the...

at 08:59
American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) , an integrated critical battery materials company that is commercializing its technologies for both primary battery minerals manufacturing and secondary minerals lithium-ion battery recycling, today...

at 08:30
Today, Governor Gavin Newsom joins a team of neighborhood leaders and environmental justice organizations in a series of new ads (Regina, Tianna, Cesar, Nalleli, Community, Governor), to be aired statewide for the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy...

at 08:00
Callon Petroleum Company ("Callon" or the "Company") today announced the expiration and final tender results of its previously announced cash tender offers (the "Offers") for any and all of its 8.000% Senior Notes due 2028 (the "2028 Notes") and any...



News published on and distributed by: