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Valley Rural Energy Services: Learn More About VRES  
Toll-free: 800-432-0680 | Pay-by-phone: 855-922-3147
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

HIC Number PA130865

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Scammers using bogus utility websites and emails

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Wednesday | September 25, 2024
All News

September 25, 2024

Do not give scammers money or personal information. Ignore them!

Pennsylvania State Police recently warned folks to be wary when paying utility bills or signing up for service online. Scammers are sending fake emails and text messages to people that claim to be from their utility company with links that appear to be legitimate links for the utility. However, the links lead to bogus websites instead of the utility's actual site.

Valley Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) does send emails and text messages regarding bills and payments to members who have chosen to receive them. The co-op also allows members to sign up for service or make payments on its website using SmartHub®, the co-op's online bill presentment, account management, and payment system.

How can you tell if an email or text claiming to be from Valley REC or SmartHub is legitimate and not a scam?

  • If you are not a member of Valley REC, or if you are not signing up for service with the co-op or doing business with the co-op, then the message is probably a scam. We do not send emails or texts to non-members or folks who have not contacted us.
  • If you are a member of Valley REC or doing business with the co-op but did not ask to receive emails or texts from us or from SmartHub, then the message is probably a scam. We only send messages to members who have chosen to receive them or to people who have contacted us.
  • If you are a member of Valley REC or doing business with the co-op and have chosen to receive messages from us, check the email address of the sender. It should end with @smarthub.coop or @valleyrec.com. If that is not the case, then the message is likely a scam.
  • If you are still suspicious or unsure about the message, call us toll-free at 1-800-432-0680 during normal business hours to discuss the matter.

How can you tell if a website is a legitimate Valley REC site or a legitimate SmartHub site?

If you are told to click on a link to pay your bill or to take you to the co-op's website or the SmartHub site, move your mouse over the link but do not click the link. Wait for a pop-up box to appear showing the web address of the link. To be a valid link, it should start with https and should be one of the following. Make certain that the spelling and punctuation match.

  • Valley REC website
    https://www.valleyrec.com
    This might be followed by additional text if the link is taking you to a specific page of our website.
  • Pay Now
    https://valleyrec.smarthub.coop/PayNow.html or
    https://valleyrec.smarthub.coop/ui/#/paynow
  • View and Pay Bill | SmartHub | Log In
    https://valleyrec.smarthub.coop/ or
    https://valleyrec.smarthub.coop/ui/#/login
  • Start New Service | Sign Up For New Service
    https://valleyrec.smarthub.coop/Login.html#newconnect or
    https://valleyrec.smarthub.coop/ui/#/newConnect/serviceLocation
  • Register Now | Account Registration
    https://valleyrec.smarthub.coop/ui/#/registration
  • Access Your Account | Account Access
    https://valleyrec.smarthub.coop/ui/#/accountAccess

Always remember, if you suspect an email, text, or link might be fake, do not reply or click. Call us toll-free at 1-800-432-0680 during normal business hours to verify that we sent the message.

For more information on spotting and avoiding scams, check out the article National Slam The Scam Day.

Scam Alert image by BearyBoo from Pixabay.

Items of Interest

We Make Safety a Priority. Valley REC. Proud member of Safe Electricity® since 2017.

Valley Rural Energy Services offered by Valley Rural Electric Cooperative
HIC Number PA130865

SmartHub Access My Account logo

MORE SAVINGS, MORE MEMORIES. The one card that does it all. Connections.coop - A father and daughter blowing dandelion seeds.

Call 811 - Know what's below. Call before you dig. (PA One Call)

Touchstone Energy Cooperatives' Home Energy Adventure

Cp-ops Vote 5-Star Program

Proud to be a 5-Star Co-op 2021-2021

 

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Main Address

Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

10700 Fairgrounds Road

PO Box 477

Huntingdon, PA 16652-0477

 

Phone Numbers

Telephone: 814-643-2650

Toll-free: 800-432-0680

Pay-by-phone: 855-922-3147

Fax: 814-643-1678

 

Office Hours

Monday - Thursday

7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

 

HIC Number PA130865

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The Touchstone Energy® name and logo design, the Co-op Connections® name,
the tagline "The One Card That Does It All®," and the tagline "The Power of Human Connections®"
are federally registered trademarks and may not be used without permission.

NISC, SmartHub, and the SmartHub Logo are registered trademarks of National Information Solutions Cooperative, Inc. (NISC) in the U.S. and other countries.

Safe Electricity® is a registered trademark of the Energy Education Council.

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©2025 Valley Rural Electric Cooperative. Your Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

  • Home
  • Billing Info
    • View & Pay Bill
    • Residential Bill
    • Payment Options
    • SmartHub Overview
      • SmartHub for the Web
      • SmartHub for iOS
      • SmartHub for Android
    • Disconnection Policy
    • Rates
    • FAQs About Rates
    • Fees
    • Definitions
      • Purchased Power Adjustment
  • Member Info
    • The Cooperative Difference
    • Bylaws and Forms
    • Annual Report
    • Capital Credits
    • Directors and Districts
    • Member Meetings
    • Recent Posts
    • Penn Lines
    • Valley News
    • Scam Alerts
  • Programs & Services
    • Valley Rural Energy Services
      • Generator Sales and Installation
      • Generator Transfer Switches
      • Whole Home Surge Protection
      • Electrical Service Work
      • Water Heater Sales
      • Water Heater Rebates
      • Home Energy Audits
      • LED Light Bulbs
    • Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
    • Community Service Grant Program
    • Co-op Connections Program
    • Demand Response
      • Demand Response Details
    • Educational Programs
    • For Kids
    • Golf Outing
    • Members Helping Members
    • Scholarships - Brighter Future
      • 2024 Recipients
      • 2023 Recipients
      • 2022 Recipients
      • 2021 Recipients
      • 2020 Recipients
      • 2019 Recipients
      • 2018 Recipients
      • 2017 Recipients
      • 2016 Recipients
      • 2015 Recipients
      • 2014 Recipients
      • 2013 Recipients
      • 2012 Recipients
      • 2011 Recipients
      • 2010 Recipients
    • Youth Tour
  • Safety
    • Indoor Safety
    • Reporting an Outage
    • Storm Center
    • Safety Quiz
    • Safe Electricity
  • Save Energy
    • Electric Shift
    • Energy Calculators
  • About Us
    • Contact Info
    • Offices and Hours
    • Service Territory
    • Job Openings
    • Legal Information
    • About Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
    • Cooperative Principles
    • Off-site Links
    • Site Map