OPPD has issued alerts about phone scammers who pretend they’re with a utility to steal customers’ money – from a distance. But some of these impostors may be bold enough to show up at your door.
There are a number of reasons you might see a legitimate OPPD employee or contractor knocking on your door. These could be employees from areas such as metering, collections, forestry, field or streetlight crews, among others.
OPPD does not make unscheduled visits very often. However, it is possible.
It could happen for a number of reasons, such as the need to investigate a power outage. Crews are instructed to let customers know that they will be on-site and to explain the work they will be doing, if that work is not planned in advance.
In addition, they may arrive to conduct equipment or pole inspections, or obtain meter readings that cannot be captured remotely. They may also stop to follow-up on customer, neighbor, or passerby reports, talk about tree trimming, or let customers know they need access to their yard to work on power equipment.
If you are suspicious of anybody claiming to be an OPPD employee or contractor, call the utility. If you feel threatened in any way, shut and lock your door. Then, call 911.
Jodi Baker writes stories and shoots videos for The Wire. Jodi was a television news reporter before she came to work for OPPD as a media specialist in 2013. Jodi earned her degree in broadcasting from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. She's worked for news stations from her hometown of Omaha to sunny San Diego. She’s married with two bright and energetic children (a boy and a girl) and an allergy-ridden little Cairn Terrier. She and her husband enjoy catching up on some grown-up DVR time once the kiddos are asleep.
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