Customers advised to ask energy auditors for company identification

Black Hills Energy is advising customers to be on the look out for individuals posing to be with the company.

Officials with Black Hills Energy released a statement advising customers to always verify the identity of anyone who comes to their house or business claiming to be a representative and/or affiliated with the company.

If in doubt, prior to giving a person any personal information or letting a person who claims to be representing the company into a home or business, call Black Hills Energy at (888) 890-5554 to confirm the person’s identity.

A Newton resident reported Thursday that someone stopped by her home and offered her the opportunity to sign up for a home energy audit through Black Hills Energy, and the man appeared to be going door to door. The resident signed a Black Hills Energy branded form that the man claimed would authorize the energy audit.

Although Black Hills Energy does offer home energy audits for Iowa natural gas customers, the audit is conducted by a qualified contractor, and is prearranged by the customer by phone in advance. It is not standard practice for Black Hills Energy or any energy efficiency program representative of the company to simply stop by a customer’s home.

Home energy audits for customers served by Black Hills Energy are conducted by specific energy auditors designated by the company. The auditing firms of A-TEC Energy and G.A. Ernst Company have been selected by Black Hills Energy to perform these home energy audits. No other company’s audit qualify for reimbursement under the energy efficiency program established by Black Hills Energy.

The auditor who conducts the audits for Black Hills Energy may vary depending on where the customer lives, but that audit, when conducted at the customer’s home, will have been prearranged by a call from the customer and the person conducting the audit will show an official Black Hills Energy branded badge with photo identification.

“The safety of our customers is important to us,” said Summer Wade, operations supervisor for Black Hills Energy in Newton. “If a person claiming to be a representative of or affiliated with Black Hills Energy stops by a customer’s home unexpectedly, we encourage customers ask to see the person’s company identification and if in doubt, call our toll-free number to verify a representative has been sent to the home on behalf of the company. Black Hills Energy customer service associates are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”