Consumer Alert: Questionable Offers Promising Savings on Utility Bills

<img src="https://dcr-apis.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/wp_contents/uploads/DCR-ADMIN/Article_Webp/consumer%2520alert.webp" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/> A Diamond Certified Preferred Member recently answered a call from an unknown number that sounded like it was coming from a faraway call center. He was told a “third-party entity” has a commercial arrangement with PG&E to provide “a lower rate on his natural gas bill.” They claimed PG&E charges $3.49 per unit for natural gas and they would lower it to $1.49 per unit for the next three years. He qualified because he’s 1) a senior, 2) pays his bills on time and 3) doesn’t receive any governmental utility bill assistance. They gave him a discount ID number and a PG&E account number that was similar to his, but not exactly. Then they asked him to talk to another agent at the call center. The questions were just confirmations of what he already told them, so he grew suspicious and hung up. Feeling unsettled by the conversation, his next call was to PG&E, who confirmed there actually was a “third-party gas provider” program. After making no comment on the legitimacy of the offer, they referred him to the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Consumer Affairs Branch. The agent explained that the rate PG&E charges is indeed $3.49 per unit of natural gas, but that includes the cost of delivering it. The “other provider” claimed to lower his rate to $1.49 per unit, but that was for natural gas only, not delivery. At the end of the day, he would be paying three times the amount that PG&E charges for gas plus delivery.  Subsequently, the consumer received a letter confirming he had “completed enrollment” even though he never signed anything or agreed to the program. Now he’s stuck spending lots of time unsubscribing to a service he never agreed to! If you get one of these calls, ask them to send information in writing, or better yet, hang up. You don’t want to end up paying even higher rates or dealing with the hassle of disenrolling, which could take months. If you have any questions about third-party pitches for deals on natural gas and/or electricity, give the CPUC’s consumer experts a call at (800) 649-7570.  <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/" target="_self">Use Diamond Certified Resource to find top rated companies.</a>  Related Articles <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/Guide/Savvy-Consumer/" target="_self">Your Guide to Being a Savvy Consumer</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-expert-advice/" target="_self">Get Expert Advice From Owners of Top</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-expert-advice/" target="_self">Rated Local Companies</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/membership/" target="_self">Become a Diamond Certified Preferred Member (Always Free)</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-top-rated-companies/hub/ca/san-francisco-bay-area/" target="_self">Find Top Rated Companies in the San Francisco Bay Area</a>