The Grays Harbor Public Utility District issued a release cautioning residents to be careful of scammers claiming to work for the PUD after receiving several reports in the last week.

Reports are spread across the county, said Communications Director Ian Cope in a phone interview.

“This latest scam is troubling on several levels, in that the perpetrators are trying to get inside the customers’ homes and that they are hoping to be mistaken for legitimate PUD crews who are working in our community,” said customer service supervisor Megan Warner in the news release. “If someone shows up at your door and offers to replace PUD equipment or sell you a new meter, do not give them money, personal information or let them into your home. The best thing to do is to call the PUD and check if there is a crew who is supposed to be at your home at that time.”

The quickest way to allay any suspicion, especially in cases where someone claiming to be from the PUD offers to sell residents a new meter that would save residents money, is to call the PUD’s customer service line at 360-532-4220, Cope said.

“It’s troubling in several ways. We do have actual PUD crews working out in the field. We had a crew out in the field doing work and the customer wouldn’t allow them to do the work,” Cope said. “It’s frustrating that that’s happening. On the other hand, it’s good to hear the costumer has taken to heart the message we’re putting out.”

The offer to replace meters with a more efficient one isn’t made in good faith, Cope said, and doing so under the banner of the PUD is frustrating for the legitimate work crews or for legitimate solar energy contractors operating in the region.

“A lot of the times it might not be someone who’s trying to break into your home. But it’s not honest business that’s being provided,” Cope said. “The term ‘no-cost energy’ is incredibly misleading. We want people to do their research.”

Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.