Rocky Mountain Power Warns Albany County Customers About Scammers

Rocky Mountain Power on November 20, 2025 issued a public advisory after detecting an increase in calls from fraudsters pretending to be utility representatives. The company said scammers are pressuring customers for immediate payments and using techniques that can make calls appear to come from Rocky Mountain Power, a practice known as caller ID spoofing. The advisory was released to coincide with Utility Scam Awareness messaging ahead of the holidays.

The company emphasized several specific red flags. Rocky Mountain Power will not demand same day payments to avoid disconnection, will not request payment via prepaid card, and will not demand on the spot payments for equipment repairs. Customers who receive a suspicious call were advised to verify the caller by asking for their account number, which legitimate customer service staff will have, hang up if the call seems fraudulent, and call the company directly at the published customer service number, 1 888 221 7070, to confirm legitimacy.

For Albany County residents, the risk is practical and immediate. Scammers often target households during periods of increased financial pressure, including the holiday season, and may focus on seniors and low income families who face higher costs and greater vulnerability to coercive payment demands. Small businesses that manage multiple accounts can also be targeted by impersonators seeking quick cash. The advisory urges customers to report scam calls with any identifying details that may help investigators, so law enforcement and utility fraud units can build cases against repeat offenders.

From an economic perspective, the advisory highlights a recurring cost of fraud that can erode household budgets and raise collection and administrative costs for utilities. When customers are deceived into making emergency payments, the financial loss is borne directly by households and indirectly by communities through increased need for financial assistance and support services. For utilities, persistent scam attempts strain customer service operations and can undermine trust in legitimate communications about outages and safety.

Policy responses include enhanced public education like the recent advisory, close coordination between utilities and regulators, and encouraging customers to rely on published contact numbers rather than information provided in unsolicited calls. Reporting suspicious calls with time stamps, caller ID information, and any requested payment details improves investigators ability to trace patterns and potentially disrupt criminal networks.

Rocky Mountain Power asked customers to remain vigilant, hang up on suspicious calls, and call 1 888 221 7070 to verify any request. Residents who suspect they have been targeted should document the interaction and report it to the company and local authorities so investigators can pursue the matter.