The Observation Deck

We got calls yesterday from a company that said they had been retained by the Illuminating Company to explain to us that because we were good customers, they were going to lower our rate. They wanted to know our account number, and described just where on our bill we could find it. They were glib and persistent and even cited the first three numbers of our account, but I found it a bit hard to believe that an agent of the Illuminating Company would not already have that information. I declined to give the information and they went away.

I don't know what they could do with our account number, but I imagine once I gave that, they would ask for additional information. I'm pretty sure they weren't from the Illuminating Company, as we have a number of phone lines, and the one they called on wasn't one that we have given to anyone.

I had someone come around like that just the other day. They did seem a little pushy about wanting to see our bill but once I mentioned that I knew we were part of the aggregate supplier they just said "good" and made a note and left.

Something similar happened to me a few months ago.

On a similar topic CEI keeps sending out offers of insurance coverage for repairs that are their responsibility to begin with!

We have to keep an eye on this and other utilities because our state government sure as hell isn't.

Stan Austin