In this day and time, personal safety has to be a top priority for everyone. At Union Power, we want to inform our members of the value of safety and what to look for as people are posing as utility workers over the phone and in person. Some electric co-op members and customers of other utilities have received telephone calls from scam artists demanding immediate credit card payment to avoid disconnection of service and visiting members’ homes posing as an employee of the co-op.

We urge our members to take extra caution if they’re asked for personal information or to gain access to their home. At no time should a Union Power employee need to come into your home to make repairs!

Remember these tips:

• Always ask for company identification. All Union Power employees, and employees working for companies contracted by Union Power, carry a company-issued photo identification and can provide this information immediately.
• If you are not certain a telephone call is coming from Union Power, do not provide any personal or banking information. Remember, you can always hang up and call Union Power’s customer service department at 704-289-3145 to verify it was someone from Union Power calling you.
• Union Power employees, on occasion, may be dispatched to a member’s home for unscheduled routine maintenance. If a visitor or caller cannot or is unwilling to provide their name or employee identification, please call Union Power’s customer service department and report it to local law enforcement.

How to identify if the Union Power employee is legitimate:

• All Union Power trucks have Union Power logos on the doors or front tag.
• Uniforms are khaki-colored shirts and navy-blue pants or jeans. The shirts will have the Union Power logo and the employee’s name.
• Ask for photo identification.
• Any member can call the Cooperative office at 704-289-3145 to verify that an employee has been dispatched to their residence.

As this day and time is becoming scarier and scammers are more advanced, Union Power is committed to ensuring that our members have the knowledge and tools to stay safe if they are confronted with a scam.