Rappahannock Electric Cooperative alerted clients to the scam this week.
By Hank Silverberg
CORRESPONDENT
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There’s a new scam in the region aimed at Rappahannock Electric Cooperative customers.
The company said scammers approached a homeowner in Caroline County asking to access the property so they could check the electric meter on the back of the house. The scammers also claimed that REC would cover the cost of installing solar panels.
But REC spokeswoman Casey Hollins said that while the company does offer guidance on solar energy, REC is not involved in any program to pay for solar panels, as the intruder claimed.
Hollins said it is really not clear what the scammer hoped to gain by accessing the electric meter, which shows usage rates on that particular property. She said it’s possible the scammer could use the meter data to gain other information about the customer’s account.
The scammer did not ask for money.
The electric cooperative does not install solar panels at all. That is left up to private companies.
There could be occasions in which REC would need access to a customer’s property, but in that case, the workers would come in clearly marked vehicles, wearing uniforms, and would be able to provide company identification.
Hollins said that if homeowners are approached by anyone wanting to access their property on behalf of the electric cooperative, but without the proper credentials, they should call REC directly at 800-552-3904 to confirm the work.
The company also suggests contacting local police, and letting neighbors know about the scam.
A spokesman for Dominion Power, which covers a much wider area of the state, said they have been made aware of the scam and are also advising customers to call the power company if they are approached with this kind of scam. Dominion’s number is 888-291-0190.
There has been an increase in the installation of solar panels across the Central Virginia region. The panels can cost more than $15,000, depending on the house.
Virginia offers incentives for installing solar panels, which can be combined with a 30% federal solar tax credit to allow customers to recover some of the cost by lowering their income taxes.
Some private companies claim that once installed, solar panels can provide free electricity. But that is not always the case.
Hollins said REC does connect the solar panels to the electric grid. If the panels produce more electricity than a home needs, the excess power goes into the electric grid and the homeowner is given credits.
Those credits can be used to pay electric bills at times when the solar panels may not be producing enough electricity for a household’s needs.
But contrary to claims by some solar panel companies, there will always be an electric bill to at least cover the access fee and state taxes.
According to Consumer Affairs, Virginia ranked 9th out of the 50 states for its use of solar energy in 2023.
The Rappahannock Electric Cooperative provides service to 179,000 customers in 22 Virginia counties, including parts of Spotsylvania, Caroline, Lousia, and Orange.
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