August 24, 2023 – The heat wave that has settled over the OPPD service territory and much of the country this week is the hottest stretch in the area since 2012. The temperature was 100 degrees or higher across the OPPD service territory from July 22 to July 25 that year, said Becky Kern, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Valley.
Temperatures haven’t been as high during this heat wave, but humidity has been “atrocious,” Kern said. Monday, Aug. 21, the heat index reached 121 degrees. The humidity has made for tropical conditions and is a big reason temperatures have only reached 100 degrees two out of the five days this week.
An excessive heat watch has been in effect for the area since Monday. The heat wave is expected to end Saturday when a cold front moves in.
Extreme weather also tends to bring out opportunistic scammers. OPPD and other utilities across the region and nation tend to see scam activity targeting customers pick up when stories of extreme weather conditions make the news. Thieves may call or text customers, posing as the utility, trying to get customers to make a payment they don’t actually owe. They threaten to disconnect power if a payment isn’t made. These callers know utility customers are particularly vulnerable in this kind of heat, when electricity is vital, and they want to take advantage of that.
Calls like this are NEVER legitimate. OPPD does not cold call customers demanding immediate payment, and we do not disconnect power when the heat index is this high. If you receive one of these phone calls, hang up. Dial OPPD directly at 402-536-4131 in the Omaha calling area or 877-536-4131 outside of the Omaha area if you have any questions.
