Scammers Again Targeting MidAmerican Energy Customers

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Rick Watts

Residential, commercial customers report flurry of imposter calls seeking immediate payment

(DES MOINES, Iowa) – Residential and commercial customers of MidAmerican Energy today report receiving calls from imposters demanding immediate payment on behalf of MidAmerican Energy.

Imposter scam callers threaten to shut off power unless the customer makes an immediate payment over the phone with a prepaid debit card.

Scammers are persistent and aggressive and can:

Spoof caller-ID to make the call appear as if it is coming from the utility or any number.
Require customers to make an immediate payment using a prepaid card (such as a Green Dot card).
Threaten disconnection if the customer doesn’t pay immediately over the phone.

Customers who receive a suspicious call should hang up, and report it to their local police department or sheriff’s office. MidAmerican does not call customers demanding immediate payment by phone.

Once you’ve reported the call to law enforcement, report it to MidAmerican Energy at the number on your monthly utility bill, or call 888-427-5632. Don’t call the number that appears on your caller-ID display.

To check your billing status, call MidAmerican. Or, access your billing records online through My Account on the company’s website at www.midamericanenergy.com.

Customers should follow these steps to stay safe:

Don’t pay immediately by phone, especially if you did not initiate the call.
Remember, MidAmerican Energy accepts many forms of payment, but won’t demand a specific payment method by phone.
Never give out personal or financial information when someone calls you. Do not share credit card, bank, prepaid money card or even gift card account numbers when you receive a call. For more information, visit www.midamericanenergy.com/scams. The Consumer Protection Division of the Iowa Attorney General’s office has also set up a utility scam recording – call 515-281-5926.

Source: MidAmerican Energy

Mahaska County Wind Farm Now Complete

Posted on February 22, 2018 by Rick Watts

(MAHASKA COUNTY, Iowa) — MidAmerican Energy Company has announced that it has completed two new wind farms in Iowa that add 338 megawatts of wind generation capacity, with one of those farms located in Mahaska County.

According to a news release sent by MidAmerican, the Beaver Creek Wind Farm in Boone and Greene Counties as well as the Prairie Wind Farm in Mahaska County are now in operation. The 168-megawatt Prairie Wind Farm began generating electricity in the Fall 2017, with the final four megawatts put into service Jan. 2018.

Construction started in the spring of 2017, following approval by the Iowa Utilities Board in 2016.

“We’re committed to providing reliable service and outstanding value to our customers, and wind energy accomplishes both,” says Mike Fehr, vice president of resource development at MidAmerican Energy. “Wind energy is good for our customers, and it’s an abundant, renewable resource that also energizes the economy.”

The release states that MidAmerican Energy anticipates that renewable generation will equate to more than 90% of its customers’ annual retail electricity usage by 2020.

By Hailey Brown, KBOE/KMZN

Scammers Targeting MidAmerican Energy Customers

Posted on December 27, 2017 by Rick Watts

DES MOINES, Iowa – (December 22, 2017) – Several MidAmerican Energy customers are being targeted over the phone today by scammers, who are posing as utility employees and threatening to shut off power unless the customer makes a payment over the phone with a prepaid debit card. Customers receiving these calls should hang up the phone immediately.

In these most recent calls, scammers have targeted commercial customers as the holiday shopping season winds up. Nonetheless, scammers can target anyone at any time of year, so all customers should be on the lookout. Scammers are persistent and aggressive. They use sophisticated methods to trick customers, which can include:

Spoofing Caller ID to make the call appear as if it is coming from the utility.
Requiring customers to make an immediate payment using a prepaid (Green Dot) card.
Impersonating energy auditors in an attempt to get inside homes or businesses.
Intimidating customers by showing up at their front doors or claiming a crew is en route to disconnect service.
Claiming there is an issue with electric or natural gas service equipment inside or outside the house and requesting immediate payment.

Customers who receive a suspicious call should hang up and call local police and their energy provider to report the scam and check the status of their account. Customers can check their balance online using My Account at www.midamericanenergy.com or by calling MidAmerican Energy at 888-427-5632.

Protecting customers from scams is a top priority for MidAmerican Energy. If customers are behind on bills, they will receive several notifications; disconnection is a last resort, not a first step in the process. MidAmerican Energy accepts many different forms of payment; a specific payment method is never required when paying your bill.

Customers should follow these steps to stay safe:

Never give out personal information such as credit card or account numbers. Utilities will not ask for this information over the phone.
Beware of any caller who asks you to pay with a prepaid (Green Dot) debit card. MidAmerican Energy does not accept this type of payment.
Ask for proper identification from anyone who approaches you claiming to be from a service provider. Call the service provider directly to verify the purpose for the visit. Use the number published on your monthly bill or the company’s website.

For more information, visit www.midamericanenergy.com/scams or watch this informative video. The Consumer Protection Division of the Iowa Attorney General’s office has also set up a hotline with more information on the scam at 515-725-5387.

About MidAmerican Energy Company
MidAmerican Energy Company is an energy provider serving 760,000 electric customers and 742,000 natural gas customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota. It is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Information about MidAmerican Energy is available on the company’s website, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages, which can be accessed via www.midamericanenergy.com.

Oskaloosa MidAmerican Location Closing

Posted on December 5, 2017December 5, 2017 by Rick Watts

To introduce its new customer service kiosk, MidAmerican Energy Company is hosting a meet and greet in Penn Central Mall on Friday, December 8, from 10 AM. to 12 PM Smokey Row coffee will be served to the attendees.

Individuals interested in attending the event can stop by and grab a free cup of coffee, take a picture with Louie the Lightning Bug and speak with one of MidAmerican Energy’s customer service representatives to learn about the new, easy-to-use payment kiosk.

“Our Oskaloosa customers can expect the same great service that we have provided and now our new kiosk is another way to support our customers,” said Kathi Allison, director, customer contact operations for MidAmerican Energy. “We are excited to offer a more convenient location, extended hours and even more payment options including debit and credit cards.”

As MidAmerican Energy transfers its Oskaloosa-area customers over to using the new kiosk, its Oskaloosa office at 2411 N. Market St., will close in January. Customers with further questions are encouraged to visit www.midamericanenergy.com or call 888-427-5632.

The Oskaloosa locations will observe no net job loss, according to Adam Jacobi, Public Relations Representative for the Corporate Communications at MidAmerican Energy. The new kiosk will simply provide enhanced hours and services for walk-up payment and billing inquiries, with extended hours and features to better serve Oskaloosa customers.

Of the three positions at the customer office in Oskaloosa, two positions were vacated earlier this year, and their positions were transferred elsewhere within the company. The remaining position will be reassigned and remain at the service center.

“The Oskaloosa service center will remain open and staffed with service and support personnel to ensure our Oskaloosa-area customers continue to receive prompt, reliable service,” Jacobi said. This location will continue to handle local service calls as usual.

Bills and payments can still be made through the mail or online through your MidAmerican Energy account, in addition to the kiosk.

MidAmerican Energy Offers Robust Programs To Keep Money In Customers’ Hands

Posted on November 13, 2017 by Rick Watts

MidAmerican Energy Company has filed an application with the Iowa Utilities Board for approval of its proposed 2019-2023 Energy Efficiency Plan, designed to immediately reduce customer bills while continuing to create energy efficiency savings.

MidAmerican Energy is proposing a plan that will save the average residential customer $67 annually – enough to install LED lightbulbs or a programmable thermostat. Commercial customers could realize an average savings of $152 per year and an average industrial customer could see savings of $6,500 per year.

In 2016, 47% of the energy MidAmerican Energy delivered to its Iowa customers came from renewable resources, all while striving to reach its 100% Renewable Energy Vision. In 2021, renewable energy is expected to equal 95% of its Iowa customers’ annual energy usage. The increase of renewable energy sources in MidAmerican Energy’s generation portfolio warrants a revised program that will allow the company to continue to offer some of the lowest rates in the country while putting more money back into customers’ pockets.

“Since the 1990s, MidAmerican Energy and its customers have come a long way in achieving the ultimate goal of energy efficiency requirements – to provide energy in an environmentally friendly and carbon-free manner,” said Bill Fehrman, president and CEO of MidAmerican Energy. “Currently, all customers help fund an energy efficiency pot of money that other customers can use. We believe it is time to return the spending decisions to our customers, empowering them to use their dollars in the way that works best for their family, instead of paying for other customers’ energy efficiency.”

Under the proposed plan, a comprehensive set of 17 programs will be offered that are designed to help customers manage energy use, reduce costs, protect the environment and increase business competitiveness.

“We are excited to provide this long-term strategy that offers energy efficiency opportunities along with customer savings,” stated Fehrman. “This is the right thing to do for our customers.”

Wind Project XI Slated to Begin in Poweshiek County

Posted on October 30, 2017 by Rick Watts

MidAmerican Energy Company plans to build a new wind farm in Poweshiek County. This is the third site in Iowa selected for construction as part of the Wind XI project.

MidAmerican Energy has begun construction activity on the North English wind farm, with completion scheduled for December 2018. The wind farm will share an operations and maintenance building in Montezuma with the Prairie wind farm, currently under construction in neighboring Mahaska County.

The North English wind farm is part of MidAmerican Energy’s Wind XI project and will add up to 170 new wind turbines with a combined capacity of 340 megawatts of new wind generation. MidAmerican Energy expects to pay up to approximately $137 million in county property taxes and up to approximately $114 million in landowner lease payments over the 40-year lifespan of the project.

“We are excited to continue development of our Wind XI project and come closer to achieving our 100% Renewable Vision,” said Bill Fehrman, president and CEO of MidAmerican Energy. “The benefits of Wind XI are very clear: clean energy produced right here in Iowa, for Iowa customers, using one of Iowa’s abundant renewable resources.”

The company is working with developers, county officials and landowners at potential wind farm sites in other Iowa counties for the balance of the Wind XI project. Construction on these projects will start in 2018 and 2019, and sites will be announced at a later date. Altogether, the $3.6 billion Wind XI project will consist of up to 1,000 wind turbines and 2,000 megawatts of wind generation capacity in Iowa when complete in December 2019.

The Wind XI project is expected to produce $1.2 billion in economic benefits for Iowa communities as a result of landowner easements and property tax payments over the next 40 years. Additionally, during construction thousands of jobs are expected to be added to Iowa’s economy and hundreds of new permanent jobs will be added when the expansion is complete. MidAmerican Energy is not asking for an increase in customer rates or financial assistance from the state to pay for the Wind XI project, and the development will help provide stable rates for its customers without requesting an increase until at least 2029.

MidAmerican Energy Tops The Ranking Chart for Customer Satisfaction

Posted on October 10, 2017 by Rick Watts

MidAmerican Energy Company’s customers have recognized the company’s ongoing commitment to deliver an exceptional customer experience. Based on customer responses, the company ranked No. 1 in the Midwest Large segment for overall customer satisfaction among natural gas companies for the third consecutive year, according to the J.D. Power Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study.

Overall residential customer satisfaction was measured by examining six factors: safety and reliability; billing and payment; price; corporate citizenship; communications; and customer service.

“Our culture is Customer First, so having our customers recognize us as the best is a tremendous compliment,” said Adam Wright, MidAmerican Energy vice president of gas delivery. “Our employees are committed to providing this essential service in a safe, reliable and affordable fashion, and they deserve the credit for this excellent result.”

In the J.D. Power study, MidAmerican Energy received a score of 767 on a 1,000-point scale – a 36-point improvement from last year. This score ranks the company No. 5 among 85 natural gas companies nationally on overall customer satisfaction. Results of the study were based on more than 61,000 online interviews conducted between September 2016 and July 2017 among residential customers of 85 large and midsize natural gas companies in the U.S.

Prairie Wind Farm Wrapping Up Installation

Posted on August 28, 2017August 28, 2017 by Rick Watts

Blattner Energy out of Avon, MN set up camp in farm fields north of Oskaloosa. Just off the west side of Highway-63 headed to New Sharon, travelers can now see 84 wind turbines in total on the east and west side of the road.

Blattner Energy specializes in various forms of renewable energy such as solar power and wind energy. The second phase of the Prairie Wind Farm is wrapping up. MidAmerican Energy will soon purchase each turbine back from Blattner to begin to utilize them for supplying lower energy costs to customers.

Construction began on the Prairie Wind Farm in April, and the project will be complete and providing benefits to Mahaska County and MidAmerican Energy customers in Iowa by the end of 2017. The 84 wind turbines over about 15 square miles will add 168 MW of wind energy capacity for Iowa customers.

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Residential, commercial customers report flurry of imposter calls seeking immediate payment

By Hailey Brown, KBOE/KMZN

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