National Grid Warns Upstate New York Customers of Nationwide Utility Scam

SYRACUSE, NY (07/03/2012)(readMedia)-- National Grid is warning customers about a new, nationwide utility bill scam that claims the federal government will pay customers' utility bills through a new program. No such program exists, and customers who may be solicited should notify local law enforcement officials to investigate.

Customers have received solicitation through phone calls, door-to-door and online asking them for their social security number and bank routing numbers. Then customers are given fake account numbers to pay their bills. These are fraudulent account numbers and are not accepted by National Grid to pay customer bills.

National Grid reminds its customers that to ensure confidence and security during service calls at homes and businesses, all National Grid employees are required to carry company photo identification. Most, but not all National Grid employees also travel in clearly marked National Grid vehicles when providing service to residences and businesses.

The company reminds customers to always ask to see the National Grid company ID badge of anyone who says they are from National Grid. If you are in any doubt as to whether an individual is a National Grid employee, tell the person to wait outside and call the National Grid customer service number to confirm. Customers are urged to contact us at 1-800-642-4272.

NATIONAL GRID

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society - to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and developing an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century. National Grid holds a vital position at the center of the energy system and it 'joins everything up'.

In the northeast US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles. In Great Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country.

National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. It manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation, providing power to over one million LIPA customers. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com.

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