Deceptive

SEMCO Energy Gas Co. said Thursday that it is alerting customers of possible deceptive marketing tactics targeting natural gas customers in the utility’s service areas. The company said it has received complaints of customers being contacted by people claiming to be marketing natural gas contracts to residential and business customers and implying they are associated with SEMCO Energy. SEMCO Energy said it does not solicit residential or commercial customers for natural gas contracts and is urging its customers to be “extremely cautious” about any personal information they provide in telephone solicitations. The utility advised customers who have questions about being contacted by someone representing SEMCO Energy to call 1-800-624-2019.Customers of the utility have the option to buy their natural gas from a third-party provider, however, SEMCO Energy said it does not solicit customers to sign up for the customer choice program. The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) provides a list of all natural gas marketers licensed in Michigan on the MPSC website: http://www.cis.state.mi.us/mpsc/gas/choice.htm. The site includes a tab showing eligible customer choice marketers active in SEMCO Energy’s service areas. The utility distributes natural gas to more than 400,000 customers combined in Michigan, as SEMCO Energy Gas Co. and in Alaska, as ENSTAR Natural Gas Co.