Arizona’s major utility providers are collaborating with the national Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS) campaign to raise awareness about utility scams on Nov. 19. The effort, supported by Arizona Public Service (APS), Salt River Project (SRP), Southwest Gas (SWG), Tucson Electric Power (TEP), and UniSource Energy Services, seeks to educate customers and businesses on recognizing fraudulent activity.
The campaign’s main message is “Slow Down, Verify, Stop the Scam.” Utility scam tactics often include demanding immediate payment with threats of service disconnection, requesting unusual payment methods such as cryptocurrency or prepaid cards, and impersonating company representatives through various communication channels.
Customers are encouraged to take three steps: slow down if a request for payment seems suspicious; verify their account status directly using official contact information from their utility provider; and report suspected scams to local authorities or law enforcement if necessary.
“Legitimate utilities never require these payment types,” the companies said in a joint statement. “If a request for payment is unexpected or creates panic, end the conversation. Legitimate utilities will reach out multiple times and offer assistance if a bill is past due.”
Additional resources on scam prevention can be found on each utility’s website as well as through the Federal Trade Commission’s online guidance about impostor scams.
Utilities United Against Scams consists of more than 150 electric, water, and natural gas utilities across North America. The group shares data and best practices to help protect customers from fraud.
APS serves about 1.4 million homes and businesses across most of Arizona. SRP provides electricity to around 1.1 million customers in greater Phoenix and supplies water throughout much of the Valley area via an extensive infrastructure system. Southwest Gas delivers natural gas service to over two million customers in Arizona, California, and Nevada. TEP serves more than 450,000 electric customers in Southern Arizona while UniSource provides services in both Northern and Southern parts of the state.
For further details or to report suspected scams:
– APS: aps.com/support or aps.com/scams
– SRP: srp.net/utility-scams
– Southwest Gas: swgas.com/verify
– TEP & UniSource: Company websites
Media contacts for each organization are available for follow-up questions.
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