Door Notices Targeting SCE Customers Spark Concern: Residents Urged to Use Extreme Caution
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — A wave of misleading “SCE Customer Notices” have been circulating across Simi Valley and nearby communities this week, sparking confusion and warnings from residents who say they’ve been targeted by what appears to be a door-to-door solar scam.
The blue and white flyers claim that, due to wildfire lawsuits, utilities like Southern California Edison (SCE) are “converting homes to self-generation.” The notices use official-sounding language about “government incentives” and warn that customers “not enrolled” in a certain program will pay 37% more for electricity. They include a toll-free number and a QR code for residents to “schedule an assessment.”
But residents say it’s not what it seems.
After calling SCE directly, several residents confirmed what they feared: Edison says this notice is a scam.
“A Slimy Sales Pitch”
One commenter described the flyer as “more like a slimy sales pitch,” while another noted, “A kid came to my door using this same language. I told him to take a hike.” Dozens of residents across neighborhoods—from Texas Tract to Santa Susana Knolls—reported finding the same flyer on their doors, gates, and driveways.
Some noticed telltale red flags: typos, inconsistent formatting, and the push to “act this week.” “Funny they didn’t proofread this!” one resident joked, while another said simply, “Mine went right in the trash.”
Others warned neighbors not to scan the QR code. “Some scams include QR codes that can access your phone once scanned,” one person explained. “Better safe than sorry.”
A Growing Pattern
The flyers appear to be part of a broader pattern of deceptive marketing tied loosely to the legitimate Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) — a real program managed by the California Public Utilities Commission. SGIP helps homeowners and businesses install clean-energy systems like solar and battery storage, but it does not send unsolicited notices, demand enrollment, or threaten higher electric bills for those who don’t participate.
Recent accounts suggest that people on Segways or e-bikes have been leaving these flyers door-to-door and, in some cases, attempting follow-up visits later in the evening. One resident recounted how a man returned to her home around 8pm, insisting on talking again: “Don’t even open the door,” she warned others.
Community Standing Guard
Despite frustration, the tone among neighbors is one of vigilance and unity. “The worse things get, the more scams we’re going to see,” one resident wrote. “So let’s all stick together… and look out for one another.”
That spirit of awareness—and action—is spreading quickly. Dozens of residents have now shared posts, photos, and updates confirming the same scam notice in neighborhoods across Simi Valley.
What You Can Do
Authorities and consumer protection experts recommend:
- Do not call the number or scan the QR code on the flyer.
- Verify with SCE directly using the number on your official bill or their website.
- Check official CPUC sources for legitimate energy programs.
- Be cautious of anyone claiming to be from a “California Energy Initiative”—no such state agency exists.
- Warn your neighbors—especially seniors—who may be more vulnerable to deceptive tactics.
Bottom line: If someone shows up at your door or leaves a flyer urging you to “act fast” on an SCE energy program, proceed with extreme caution. Real programs never rely on fear, threats, or surprise visits.
As one commenter summed it up best: “Thank you for the heads up. Scammers sure are busy—but so are we, keeping each other safe.”
