Summer soon will be here, bringing not only searing temperatures but scam artists hoping to burn residents concerned about higher air-conditioning and energy costs. Florida Power & Light Company wants to help residents avoid these rip-offs, while truly saving customers energy and money during the hot weather.

"Scam artists know residents use their air-conditioning much more during this season, which will increase their electric bills," said David Bates, FPL's air-conditioning program manager. "That can make customers more vulnerable to unrealistic promises of savings."

The schemes vary. Sometimes a caller claims to be with a utility and wishes to schedule an inspection of a home's air-conditioning system and other components. The scam artist then visits the home and tries to sell the customer a new, expensive AC unit or other so-called energy-saving items or services. Other times, a salesperson may wildly overstate the possible savings and cash incentives an electric company will provide to help pay for energy upgrades.

"Unfortunately, these swindlers know FPL provides a number of legitimate programs and incentives that really can help save customers money," Mr. Bates said. "They use this to confuse their victims."

Below are tips from FPL to avoid these types of fraud:

* Ask to see identification if someone comes to your door or into your yard and claims to represent FPL. All FPL employees carry a photo identification badge. FPL energy management specialists and other representatives may be in your neighborhood to administer duct tests, read electric meters, repair power lines or other activities, but they do not ask to come into your home without prior arrangements.

* FPL will not send employees to your home offering cash refunds on deposits or electric charges. FPL either credits your account or mails a check to you.

* Contact FPL if you are considering air-conditioning or other energy- related work in your home. FPL offers customers a list of participating, independent contractors. Contractors on FPL's list must maintain specified standards of performance.

* Contact FPL for a current and accurate list of cash incentives and efficiency programs.

* Contact FPL to confirm all information you may receive on energy savings and incentives, especially if it seems too good to be true.

* Contact FPL, if you are in doubt about anything related to energy efficiency in your home.

Visit FPL on the Internet at http://www.fpl.com/. Or, customers may call 1-800-DIAL-FPL. With this call or visit, you'll be able to learn more about FPL's programs to truly save energy and money.

Florida Power & Light is the principal subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc. one of the nation's largest providers of electricity-related services with annual revenues of more than $7 billion. The company serves approximately 3.9 million customer accounts in Florida.

FPL Energy, Inc. is a leader in producing electricity from clean and renewable fuels. Information is available on the Internet at http://www.fplgroup.com/ and http://www.fpl.com/.

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SOURCE: Florida Power & Light Company