Scam Alert: Beware of Phony Energy Upgrade California Contractor Solicitations

South San Francisco, CA     July 15, 2016    by Sheri Boles, CPUC CPUC logo

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) wants to protect you from unscrupulous scams involving phony Energy Upgrade California contractors and/or solicitations.

Here’s how the scam typically works: An individual or entity will contact you via a telemarketing call, door-to-door visit, email, or letter in the mail, claiming to be a contractor or rater who represents Energy Upgrade California, which is a state initiative to help Californians take action to save energy and conserve natural resources.  The con artist will say they can make your home more energy efficient, or that you will no longer receive energy savings or discounts if you do not use their services or buy their products. This con artist will also use company or program names that sound familiar to Energy Upgrade California in hopes of confusing you.

Here’s how you can avoid the scam: It’s easy to check if the supposed contractor or rater is considered an approved Participating Contractor or Rater with Energy Upgrade California. Visit the Energy Upgrade California webpage for a list of approved participating contractors or raters at http://myenergy.energyupgradeca.org/contractor/search and type in either the name or your zip code.

Report them! If you’ve received this type of bogus solicitation, please contact the CPUC’s Safety & Enforcement Division:
Call: 415-703-1235
Email: fraudhotline@cpuc.ca.gov

You are our eyes and ears of the community. The information you provide may assist with a CPUC investigation into this illegal activity against California consumers.

For more information on Energy Upgrade California, please visit www.energyupgradeca.gov.

For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.

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Fay Popejoy
Fay Popejoy
1 year ago

I get this scam telephone call at least twice a day. Pressing the number to be removed doesn’t stop them. Asking them to stop calling me doesn’t work. I can’t report the phone number because I know all the numbers are spoofed. I wish government entity could do something about this.

Denise Gordon
Denise Gordon
1 year ago

I knew it was a scam when MY phone number showed up on my caller ID. I get this call at least 20 times a day or more from different numbers. One time it was phone number outside of California. Dead giveaway!

Stephen Clamage
Stephen Clamage
6 years ago

The contractor search link shown above doesn’t work. I tried searching for contractors at energyupgradeca.org, but for my zip code found only SCE and SoCal Gas. I was approached by Zero Energy, who seems to be a legit contractor, but can you verify whether that is so?