General

Are you ready for Heat the Streets?

The 2025 Heat the Streets Run & Walk for Warmth is less than a month away, but you still have time to sign up and participate.

The annual event, in its 18th year, raises funds to provide utility bill assistance for customers going through hard financial times. It will take place March 1 at Aksarben Village.

Registration is open at HeatTheStreetsOmaha.com, with sign-up options available for everyone from competitive runners to slowpokes who enjoy a stroll.

Omaha Public Power District and Metropolitan Utilities District host the run and walk during the winter to bring added attention to the struggle some community members face to keep their homes warm and their lights on.

This year’s co-chairs are Mark Mendenhall, Senior Vice President, General Counsel of M.U.D., and his wife, Bridget, and Eric Williams, a member of the OPPD Board of Directors, and his partner, Kristine Hull.

“My wife and I are honored to be part of this event, which shines a light on the generosity of this community,”  Mendenhall said. “This event provides assistance for life-essential services, and we hope to provide enough support to help all in need.”

Peace of mind

Customers can find themselves in need of assistance due to circumstances beyond their control, such as a hospital stay, lost job or pricey car repair.

One customer who received assistance spoke of worrying about being able to pay bills after suffering a stroke and being out of work for nearly seven months.

“I have been doing my best to stay on top of the bills,” the customer said. “But knowing that I don’t have to decide between feeding my kids and keeping the lights on brings me a lot of peace.”

Funds raised are administered by Dollar Energy Fund Inc., a registered 501(c)(3), and split between M.U.D.’s Home Fund and OPPD’s Energy Assistance Program to provide assistance to our customers living in Burt, Cass, Colfax, Dodge, Douglas, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington counties.

A record 1,055 runners and walkers took part in last year’s event, which raised more than $175,000, another record.

Money raised through registrations, sponsorships and other donations benefits customers across a 13-county area.

Planning to participate?

The timed events (5K and 10K) will begin at 9 a.m. The untimed 2-mile walk will start at 9:15 a.m. Participants in the 10K and 5K should aim to finish by 10:30 a.m. (this is a 1.5-hour time limit).

Here are this year’s participation options and registration prices:

Timed 10K

• $45 (February 1-26)
• $55 (Day-of registration)

Timed 5K

• $40 (February 1 through February 26)
• $50 (Day-of registration)

Untimed 2-mile walk (Children 12 and under may register for free with a registered adult.)

• $30 (February 1 through February 26)
• $40 (Day-of registration)

Virtual run/walk

• $30 (Through March 1)

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place male and female runners in each of the following age divisions for the timed 5K and 10K events will receive awards: 12 and under, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+. (Virtual participants are not eligible for awards.)

You don’t have to participate to support the cause. You can make a donation online here.

Both utilities urge any customers who are struggling with their bills to call their customer service representatives. For OPPD, that number is 402-536-4131 in the Omaha area. Outside of the metro, customers may call toll-free at 877-536-4131. M.U.D. customers should call 402-554-6666.