Media Contact: Faye I. Andersen, (775) 834-4822

NV Energy issued a warning to its customers and others today to be wary of"text messages"being sent to residents'cell phone using the company's former operating name, Sierra Pacific Power Company.

Northern Nevada residents have reported to the company that they have received these messages over their cell phone, with a claim that their debit cards have been"frozen".  The message also instructs them to call an out-of-area phone number to remedy the problem. 

NV Energy officials said the company does not contact its customers'cell phones with"text messages"if there are issues regarding a customer's account.  The company also said it has received calls from individuals who received the messages, but are not customers of NV Energy.

"We do not know who is behind these hoax messages,"said Steve Moyer, Director of Corporate Security for NV Energy."There has been no breach of information or loss of company data that's behind this scheme. People who aren't even our customers are getting these'text messages'". 

Moyer and the police recommend that anyone receiving such a message should not call the number on the message. If they wish to check the status of their NV Energy account, they can call 775-834-4444 Or, they should contact their individual bank regarding their debit cards. 

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