If you receive a call from a “Southern California Edison technician” threatening to immediately remove your meter unless you provide instant payment — stop, this is an urgency scam.
Fraudsters often create a false sense of panic, pressuring you to act before you have time to think things through.
During National Consumer Protection Week- Opens in new window, take time to refresh your knowledge about scam tactics and share tips with your family and friends.
Meter removal threats are a common scam tactic. Remember:
- SCE will never disconnect your service without proper notification.
- SCE representatives may visit your home or business without prior notice to replace damaged meters and meters that are not transmitting data or to conduct routine maintenance.
- There is no cost to test or replace meters.
- If an SCE representative visits your home or business, always ask for identification before allowing anyone entry. You can also call the employee verification line at 1-800-655-4555 and select option 5 to confirm their identity.
Last year, SCE customers filed 1,750 fraud complaints, totaling over $806,000 in demanded funds. Fraudsters managed to pocket $131,464 — but thanks to many savvy customers who avoided becoming victims — that was nearly a 72% drop from 2024.
Here’s how you can identify, prevent and report a scam in three steps:
1. Slow down: Take time to consider the legitimacy of unexpected and urgent payment requests.
2. Verify: Contact SCE directly using the verified number on your bill or visit sce.com- Opens in new window to check your account status. Scammers often insist you can only pay via specific, fraudulent methods, such as prepaid store barcodes- Opens in new window, prepaid cards, gift cards, third-party payment apps or cryptocurrency that send money straight to them.
3. Report it: If you receive a fraudulent call, text, email or in-person visit, report the incident immediately at sce.com/scamalert- Opens in new window.
You can make secure payments using SCE’s five approved methods- Opens in new window, including paying online at sce.com- Opens in new window, with a digital card or wallet, by phone, mail or in person.
Visit sce.com/scamalert- Opens in new window for tips and resources.
Communications around scam safety are funded by ratepayers.
