Altermagnets are a new class of materials that mix features of both ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. They have spin-split bands like ferromagnets but still show no net magnetization. Their underlying symmetries also lead to unusual effects, such as a strong piezomagnetic effect and hyperbolic wave dispersion. This raises an important question: which of these behaviors actually come from magnetism, and which are simply a result of symmetry? In this work, we separate these two aspects by proposing a non-magnetic analogue of an altermagnet, built from polarized chains. These “alterelectrics” show anisotropic piezoelectricity and surface states with hyperbolic wave dispersion, demonstrated through a simple model. Instead of spin-split bands, the electronic states localize on opposite surfaces, producing strongly anisotropic, surface-dependent transport.