Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is alerting its customers to a significant increase in utility scams, with fraudsters having already stolen more than $211,000 in the first half of 2026. The company warns that losses could escalate by approximately 30% in 2026 compared to the previous year, as scammers employ increasingly sophisticated methods to impersonate utility employees. This alert comes at a time when many Californians are already facing financial pressure due to rising energy costs.
Scammers typically initiate contact through phone calls, text messages, or emails, falsely claiming that a customer's utility bill is overdue. They then threaten to disconnect electricity or gas service unless immediate payment is made. Victims are often directed to scan a fraudulent QR code and make payments at local cashier or retail locations, with the funds diverted directly to the scammers. The average victim has lost about $969 this year, a notable increase from the average loss of $590 reported in 2025.
While the scams have been reported across PG&E's service territory, specific areas like Santa Barbara County have seen at least nine reported cases, with San Luis Obispo County reporting three so far this year. Matt Foley, PG&E's lead scam investigator, stated that scammers exploit customers' fear and urgency. He advises customers to immediately end any conversation with individuals demanding instant payment under threat of service disconnection. Instead, customers are urged to independently verify their account status by logging into the official PG&E website or contacting the utility directly via its customer service number.
PG&E also cautions customers to be wary of requests for payment through prepaid debit cards, cryptocurrency, digital payment apps, or other unconventional methods. Additionally, customers should be suspicious of unsolicited visits from individuals claiming to inspect utility bills or offering unexpected rebates or refunds.
The utility's warning is compounded by projections from a watchdog with the California Public Utilities Commission, which estimates that PG&E customers could face annual gas and electricity bill increases of up to $840 by 2030. The Public Advocates Office forecasts a potential 24.5% increase in typical household energy costs over the next four years, adding to already significant hikes that have seen bills climb 84% since 2016. PG&E has contested these projections, arguing that the analysis did not account for expiring wildfire-related costs and the company's efforts to mitigate future rate increases.
With utility costs already straining household budgets, PG&E emphasizes that scammers are capitalizing on customers' anxieties about potential service interruptions. The company reiterates that any customer receiving a suspicious communication demanding immediate payment should terminate the conversation and verify the information through official PG&E channels before remitting any funds.