This is Smart One Energy. They use caller ID spoofing, which means that the number that shows up on your caller ID is not the number they are calling from. Some of their sales people also say (fraudulently) that they are calling from Washington Gas and that you qualify for a discount on your bill, and that they want to verify your account number. DO NOT give them your account number unless you want to switch gas suppliers. They will take it and switch you from Washington Gas to their company, without your permission.
How did they get your phone number? Washington Gas provides third party companies with your home phone number as part of the new competitive supplier market. You can opt out for one year by calling Washington Gas between 9/1 and 10/13 and asking to enroll in "Opt Out" so that your home phone number will not be shared. You will have to do this every year, however.
Multiple calls, I finally answered this afternoon. Washington Gas discount -- the caller already had my address and name, wanted my account number. How can I block this number
They must just be starting up their calls since all the above entries are dated in the past 24 hours. I got called this evening 1/11/13. It was a bad connection with a very faint man's voice which I couldn't hear because of loud static. Good excuse to hang up.
I see "Five companies behind the 'Rachel from Cardholder Services' scheme and other credit card robocalls were shut down Thursday (in Nov), the FTC announced." So keep filing those complaints.
I myself keep a notebook and document as well as report to donotcall.gov every telemarketing call on my caller ID.