WESTFIELD – Since April, Westfield Gas and Electric has been warning customers of a telephone scam in which a caller would give a customer an ultimatum: pay their utility bills with a wire transfer or a prepaid money card or face termination of their electric services.
Reports coming from the greater Westfield area have indicated that calls of this nature have been occurring, with individuals misrepresenting themselves as utility employees. Some residents have even reported individuals going door-to-door seeking payment in order to avoid termination of service.
In a statement, Westfield G&E spokesperson Beth Burns stated that if a WG&E customer is scheduled for a disconnection due to nonpayment, they will receive a written notice that includes what actions they must take to maintain service.
She added that he WG+E will not send an employee to the residence to seek payment.
The statement concluded that, should you receive such a visitor or phone call to not divulge any account or personal information and immediately call the WG&E at (413) 572-0100 to discuss your account and/or report the call to the Financial Crimes Unit of the Westfield Police Department Detective Bureau at (413) 562-5411.
“At the Westfield Gas & Electric, protecting customer information is a top priority.” said Burns. “We treat personal information and data about our customers as confidential, consistent with all legal and regulatory requirements, including those established by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU).”
Recently the American Public Gas Association (APGA) presented Westfield Gas and Electric with the prestigious APGA System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) distinction, which recognizes excellence in operating natural gas utilities.
Out of over 700 APGA members, Westfield Gas and Electric was one of only 21 selected for SOAR distinction by the APGA Operations and Safety Committee, and WG&E’s Silver distinction was based on demonstrated excellence in the four areas of system integrity, system improvement, employee safety, and workforce development.
“Westfield Gas and Electric was highly rated in all four areas that are required of SOAR,” said APGA President and CEO, Bert Kalisch. “(WG&E) consistently demonstrates a commitment to providing natural gas safely and efficiently to all those in their community and as such, serves as a model for all other natural gas utilities in the country. APGA is proud to recognize Westfield Gas and Electric and is confident in their continued success.”
The APGA SOAR award is the natural gas counterpart to the Reliable Public Power (RP3) award bestowed by the American Public Power Association, and the WG&E has held the RP3 designation since 2007, and was the only public utility company in New England to receive each of these coveted awards this year.
“This honor speaks to the dedication and high performance of our entire operation” said WG&E General Manager Dan Howard. “Westfield Gas and Electric is service and we strive to provide the very best to our customers and the community in which we live and work.”
