Salespeople Posing as Your Utility
Hi, I'm with the utility. We're checking meters in the neighborhood and reviewing your rates. Can I see your latest bill?
What's actually true
Utilities don't send people door to door to sell solar or review your bill. A rep who implies a utility connection is using borrowed trust to start a sales pitch, and may be collecting your account information.
Your electric utility does not send salespeople to your door to sell solar, check your bill or sign you up for a “rate program.” When someone at the door says they’re “with the utility,” “partnered with” it, or “doing a meter check,” and then turns the conversation to solar, you’re talking to a private salesperson. The utility story is a way in.
Why salespeople do it
People open the door for the utility. They don’t for a solar salesperson. Mentioning a coming rate increase, a meter problem or an “energy audit” gets the conversation started on a note of worry and authority. Some reps use logos, colors or vests that look official. Others never say they work for the utility but let you assume it.
The same pretext shows up by phone. Robocalls about “utility rebates” or “free energy audits” are often lead generation for solar companies, and your information may be resold to several installers. See robocall rebate scams. Sunrun, for example, settled a class action for $5.5 million over prerecorded robocalls without admitting wrongdoing.
Common versions
| What you hear | What’s usually going on |
|---|---|
| “We’re checking meters on your street.” | Door opener for a solar pitch |
| “Your rates are going up next month; we can lock them in.” | Sales pitch for a lease, PPA or loan |
| “We’re doing free energy audits for the utility.” | Lead generation |
| “Your neighbors are all signing up for the utility’s solar program.” | Social pressure; there’s no such program |
| “I just need a photo of your bill to see if you qualify.” | Collecting your account number and usage |
A worked example
A rep says rates in your area are going up 15% next year and “the program” will lock you in at today’s rate. Even if a rate case is pending, a solar lease doesn’t lock your utility rate. You’d still pay the utility’s fixed charges and any power you buy. And many leases rise each year with an escalator, commonly 0.99% to 2.99% a year. A 2.9% escalator on a $150 payment reaches about $194 by year 10 and about $298 by year 25. That’s not a lock.
How it shows up later
- Your contract names a solar company, lender or leasing company, never the utility
- Your utility account shows an interconnection application you didn’t knowingly authorize
- You start getting calls from other solar companies after the visit
Questions to ask at the door
- “What company do you work for? Can I see a business card and ID?”
- “Are you an employee of my utility? Can I call them to confirm?”
- “Are you selling something today?”
- “Are you licensed for door-to-door sales in this city?” (Many cities require permits.)
What to do
Close the door politely and call your utility at the number printed on your bill. If they didn’t send anyone, tell them. Utilities want to know when someone is using their name. If you’re interested in solar, start on your own terms with the solar calculator and compare quotes.
Our guides to solar scams and door-to-door solar sales cover related tactics. Check any specific claim with the sales claim checker.
Watch out: If you signed anything after a visit like this, the FTC Cooling-Off Rule generally gives you 3 business days to cancel a sale made at your home. See how to cancel.
Where to report it
- Your utility’s customer service line (number on your bill)
- FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Your state attorney general’s consumer protection office
- Your local police non-emergency line if someone claimed to be a utility employee
Related red flags
"Can I See Your Electric Bill?"
A fair quote does need your usage history. But a photo of your bill also gives the rep your utility account number, which can be used to file paperwork in your name, and a single high bill is often used to exaggerate your savings.
Robocalls Offering Free Energy Audits and Rebate Checks
Unsolicited calls offering free audits, rebate checks or solar programs are usually telemarketing lead generation, and sometimes impersonate your utility. Your details may be sold to multiple installers, or used to submit applications you didn't authorize.
"Free Solar" and "Government Solar Programs"
No federal or state program installs free panels door to door. "Free" or "no-cost" almost always means a $0-down lease, PPA or loan with 20 to 25 years of payments.
Targeting Seniors and Non-English Speakers
Retirees and households pitched in another language are frequent targets of misleading solar sales. Deals can rely on tax credits the buyer can't use, run longer than the buyer plans to stay, or come with a contract in a language the buyer can't read.
Rushed Tablet Signing at the Kitchen Table
Those screens can include a 25-year lease or loan, a lien filing, credit authorization and a waiver of your right to cancel. If you don't see the full document before you sign, you don't know what you agreed to.