Phony PSC Telephone Scam
The Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) strongly encourages the public to be wary of any calls offering to reduce your utility bills, from callers claiming to represent the Montana PSC.
On April 25, 2023, a Bozeman resident received a call from someone with a “406” phone number claiming to work for the “Montana P.U.C.” The caller suggested that the Montana resident could receive a refund because their utility rates were “too high.” When the resident wisely refused to continue the call and hung up, they subsequently called the number back and the message received was that the number was “disconnected or no longer in service”.
The Montana PSC never contacts residential or business utility customers who have not contacted us first with a request for information. Further, the PSC is in no way responsible for billing, or rebates, on utility bills. Finally, staff at the PSC never requests personal or financial information.
Scammers such as this individual are opportunists preying on people who are unsuspecting. The Commissioners of the PSC strongly encourage energy customers to exercise caution when receiving calls from parties making claims that seem too good to be true. If you are in doubt, ask for the caller’s telephone number AND the name of their supervisor. Also, ask to be put in immediate contact with their supervisor and, if a person comes on the line, ask that person for their direct telephone number.
Anyone who falsely represents that they are a state employee is in violation of Montana Code Annotated 45-7-209 and should be reported to the authorities at once.
The Montana Public Service Commission regulates private, investor-owned natural gas, electric, landline telephone, water and sewer companies, certain motor carriers, and manages safety programs for natural gas pipelines and railroads in Montana. State and federal law requires the Commission to allow regulated utilities to recover their actual costs of providing public utility services. For more information, visit: https://psc.mt.gov or call 1-800-646-6150. Follow the Commission at Twitter.com/@MT_PSC or check for updates at Facebook.com/MontanaPSC.
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