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As the old saying goes, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Sawnee EMC, a distribution electric utility serving over 150,000 accounts in seven (7) counties in north Georgia, warns today it has gotten reports that some of its members are receiving telephone calls where the caller states that the “Government is paying up to $350 toward the power bills of the low income and elderly and all they need to do is simply give the caller their social security number and Sawnee EMC account number”. Blake House, V.P. of Member Services for Sawnee EMC, states, “We know nothing of this proposed governmental program; it sounds very suspicious and appears to be a scam. We would never advise our members to release any personal identification information to a third party over the phone”, he adds. Members of Sawnee EMC should use caution when approached by an entity who claims to be associated with Sawnee EMC in a program that provides “free” cash to go toward an energy bill, especially if that entity is requesting personal identification information to be provided. Sawnee EMC, as well as other utilities, must adhere to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Red Flags Rules relating to identity theft and consumer information protection. These are new standards that became effective in mid 2009 to protect consumer’s information and add an additional layer of consumer protection to a variety of business transactions. “We have gone to great lengths to protect our consumers’ personal information and we do not want them to be tricked into a scam that might have our good name tied to it”, House adds. If you have questions or concerns about any notice or request that you or someone you know receives about your Sawnee EMC electric energy bill, Sawnee EMC asks that you contact their 24-hour Call Center at (770) 887-2363. About Sawnee EMC: Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is a distribution electric cooperative headquartered in Cumming, Georgia. Sawnee serves electricity to over 148,000 accounts in seven (7) counties of greater north Georgia. Sawnee’s assets exceed $368 million with annual energy sales of 2.23 billion and revenue of $201 million. With over 300 dedicated employees, Sawnee’s team of professionals meets the needs of its member-owners through its complex network of over 9,420 miles of distribution facilities. Georgia’s 42 electric cooperatives now serve more customers than any other state network of EMCs in the nation.
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