Scam Alert
Bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and other small businesses in New York City are being targeted by scammers posing as utility representatives or attempting to switch customers to a different energy supplier (ESCO) without their consent.
How do you know if your business has been signed up by an energy supplier without your authorization?
Learn more about recognizing utility scams from Con Edison.
If you believe your account was switched without your authorization, contact Con Edison or National Grid immediately, and then report the incident to the New York State Public Service Commission at 888-697-7728, which oversees ESCOs and investigates complaints.
Block your account
You can place a block on your utility account to help prevent unauthorized ESCO’s from switching your account.
Con Edison
- Call Con Edison at 800-75-CONED immediately to report the issue.
- Ask Con Edison to place an ESCO Block on your account to prevent unauthorized supplier changes. (You can remove the block later if you choose to enroll with an ESCO.)
National Grid
- A block can be placed on your National Grid account. This will prevent the release of information such as your gas profile, gas billing history, credit history as well as any unwanted switches to an ESCO.
- If you wish to have a block placed on your account please contact them.
At the same time, choosing a reputable ESCO may help your business save on energy costs. JFHANY participates in an electricity savings program (view program details), and many of our member businesses are reducing their energy costs by working with legitimate ESCOs. If you have any questions or would like a recommendation, please contact us at info@jfhany.org.
