Several members have contacted the cooperative recently to report they have received telephone calls from telemarketers stating they are affiliated with either their electric utility or an energy company that can reduce their electric bills.

These calls are not coming from Claverack, nor are we familiar with the source of these calls. We do know there has been an increase in marketing activities by alternative generation suppliers since generation rate caps expired for our neighboring investor-owned utilities, PPL and Penelec, in 2010 and 2011, respectively.Under Pennsylvania’s Customer Choice law, all Pennsylvania electric consumers have the ability to choose the company that supplies their electric generation.To date, no alternative generation suppliers have registered to provide generation supply within Claverack’s service territory. Should alternative generation suppliers begin offering generation to our members, we will communicate that information via Penn Lines and the Claverack website.

Claverack’s default generation supplier is Allegheny Electric Cooperative, which provides generation to all 13 electric cooperatives in Pennsylvania. The cost Claverack members currently pay for generation and transmission service, known as the “price to compare,” is 6.2 cents per kilowatt-hour. Claverack urges members to listen carefully to unsolicited calls from telemarketers and to be cautious about releasing any personal information over the phone.Should you receive telemarketing calls that you feel may be fraudulent, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission online at www.ftc.gov or by calling 1-877-382-4357. 

Protect yourself against phone fraud

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website,www.ftc.gov, offers a wealth of information about fraudulent telemarketing efforts and ways to protect yourself against scam calls. Following are some of the tips available on the FTC site:

Don’t be pressured to make an immediate decision.

Don’t give your credit card, checking account, or Social Security number to unknown callers.

Don’t pay for something merely because you’ll get a “free gift.”

Get all information in writing before you agree to buy.

Don’t invest your money with an unknown caller who insists you make up your mind immediately.

Don’t send cash by messenger or overnight mail. If you use cash rather than a credit card in the transaction, you may lose your right to dispute fraudulent charges.

Don’t agree to any offer where you have to pay a “registration” or “shipping fee” to receive a prize or a gift. If you have to pay, it’s a purchase — not a prize or a gift.

Don’t confirm your account information over the phone or by email. Some callers have your billing information before they call you. They’re trying to get you to say “okay” so they can claim you approved a charge.

Check out unsolicited offers with the Better Business Bureau, local consumer protection agency, or state Attorney General’s office before you agree to send money.

Don’t be afraid to say “no thanks” and hang up the phone.

If you don’t want a business to call you again, say so. If they call back, they’re breaking the law.

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