Just tried to participate in PEPCO Energy programs and have been getting the complete run-around. PEPCO is legitimately stealing from customers because we are charged a monthly fee for this program. But there is no program. Why would a company interested in making money want to save customers money. It's oxymoronic. The program is a complete ruse and what's worse is that the government office (Maryland Public Service Commission) that regulates and oversees PEPCO is a guise or better yet a phony. Who is regulating the MPSC?

I just got a call as well and thr lady gave me the following https://homeenergysavings.pepco.com.

I am also suspect and declined the free offer. But it does look legit...

They may change light bulbs to collect data from your family

Anonymous wrote:They kept calling me and I finally said yes to am appointment to get them to stop calling.

Can I take the bulbs and not let them in my house?

Or not answer the door?

Are you seriously asking if you are allowed to say no to a total stranger who wants to come into your house? Answer is yes. If they dont leave your door yoi can call the police

Look at your electric bill. You're paying for this service if you want to use it or not.

Here's an official page that promotes and allows you to sign up for free energy auditsl and lightbulbs.

Updated for 2023/2024

https://homeenergysavings.pepco.com/md/residential/quick-home-energy-check-up-program

Stills seems sus that the auditor calls people to "push" appointments.

Here's the MD state website. The links out to Pepco to sign up for this thing are dead links, due to covid or Pepco incompetence or whatever.

https://energy.maryland.gov/Pages/Facts/empower_form.aspx

There is still some subsidized offering for low income people. So maybe the idea is the contractor comes out for the "free" service and then says "oh you are too rich to qualify so you have to pay $$".
So it seems like what happened is since the sign ups are no longer possible, and enterprising contractor decided to unofficially "administer" the program themselves, either as lead gen for their business, or to they can collect rebate money from Pepco (but how would that be profitable?). Or something shadier. No way to know for sure.

Pepco rebates are cancelled
https://homeenergysavings.pepco.com/md/residential/lighting-program

The part that confuses me is how this 3rd party got my cell phone matched to my name address. I know this info is "out there", but whenever I get a cold call scam it's either to my phone or mail to my address and they don't know both and also my name. Only businesses I have some connection to know all that.

https://homeenergysavings.pepco.com/md/residential/quick-home-energy-check-up-program/participating-contractors

This says that Atlas and others are legit contractors, that will perform Home Energy Audit.

Atlas says they'll do an audit. They say it costs $100 from you pus $300 from PEPCO. Atlas says that they will do upgrade projects and take advantage of rebates from PEPCO.

https://www.atlashomeenergy.com/

All in all looks like a legit program but the sales operation is lying to people about it works, to trick you into buying their stuff.

I advise, tell them to stop calling and if you agreed to an appointment, tell them to go away when they arrive.

(You can't call back to cancel an appointment, because they give PEPCO's phone number, not their own phone number.)