Consumer Protection Week (March 1–7) is a reminder to stay vigilant against scams and protect your personal information. Unfortunately, scammers sometimes target utility customers by pretending to represent electric providers and attempting to collect payments or sensitive account information.

At Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, protecting our members and their information is a top priority. While we use secure systems and protocols to safeguard your data, awareness and caution can go a long way in preventing fraud.

Be cautions of unexpected payment demands

If something feels off, hang up and contact Eau Claire Energy Cooperative directly.

One common scam involves someone posing as a utility representative and demanding immediate payment. These callers may threaten service disconnection if payment is not made right away.

Remember: Eau Claire Energy Cooperative will never demand payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. We also will not threaten to disconnect your service without prior warning.

If you receive a suspicious message or call, do not provide payment or personal information. Instead, hang up and contact our office directly using the phone number listed on your electric bill or on our official website.

Never share sensitive account information

Scammers often try to obtain account numbers, passwords, or other personal details by posing as trusted organizations.

Eau Claire Energy Cooperative will only request personal account information when you contact us directly or through secure, verified channels.

If someone contacts you unexpectedly asking for account details, the safest step is to end the conversation and verify the request by calling us directly.

Protect your online accounts

Members can also take simple steps to help keep their information secure:

• Use strong, unique passwords for your online accounts

• Avoid clicking suspicious links in emails or text messages

• Monitor your electric account regularly for unusual activity

By staying aware and taking a few precautions, you can help reduce the risk of fraud and keep your information secure.

When in doubt, contact us

If something doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts. Our team is always happy to help verify communications and answer questions about your account. Call ECEC at 715-832-1603 or email memberservices@ecec.com. Working together, we can help keep our members safe from scams.