Clallam PUD is warning customers of possible telephone scams where the caller poses as a PUD employee and attempts to collect money through various means. This has happened sporadically throughout the year to both residential and business customers not only at Clallam PUD, but nationwide.

The most recent scam has a caller contacting business owners indicating that if the business owner does not pay the PUD immediately they would be disconnected.

While the PUD does disconnect power for nonpayment, it does have a process it follows. At approximately 33 days after the customer’s bill date, if the customer has not paid they receive a past due notice in the mail. This is a 10 day notice. If they do not pay within those 10 days the customer’s name then goes into the PUD’s phone notification system. Phone calls from the PUD occur on Friday, but if the automated call does not go thru on Friday the PUD then makes manual calls the next Monday. Lastly, if after the manual call on Monday the PUD is still not able to reach someone, a door hanger is delivered on Tuesday.

This means that PUD customers would not receive a phone call unless their bill was approximately 45 days delinquent from the bill date. Because of FACTA, the PUD does not provide any information to customers about their account unless the customer provides verification that they are the account holder. Additionally, the PUD only makes manual calls during regular operating hours, Monday – Friday. Disconnects for non-payment also occur during normal working hours, Monday-Friday, providing one more opportunity for customers to make arrangements.

The PUD encourages customers to be cautious when providing personal information, and when in doubt, call the PUD at 360-452-9771 to verify the legitimacy of the inquiry