This is national grid. It is the same number that called me in the past when my bill was overdue. That wasn't a scam; my bill really was overdue. But I still didn't pay it by phone, I simply paid it electronically the way I pay all my bills, once I had the money to do so.

Currently, they are calling to schedule replacing my meter free of charge. This is because Mass state law requires the replacement every 7 years, even if the meter is fully functional. I converted from oil to gas seven years ago. Scam? No, not in my case.

But I'm glad so many others are suspicious in general. That is a healthy skepticism. For me, it checks out in this case.