Messenger the
September 2016
A monthly publication of North Arkansas Electric Cooperative
Enroll in auto bank draft to enter into drawing for $50 gift cards NAEC is encouraging members to enroll in automatic bank draft by holding a drawing for 20 $50 VISA gift cards. Ten $50 gift cards will be awarded to members who already are enrolled in automatic bank draft and another 10 will be given to members who enroll in the service now through Oct. 1. Automatic bank draft provides a convenient alternative to having to remember to pay your electric bill each month. It is the easiest form of payment for both members and the cooperative. Members are not out the expense of checks or postage, and the labor on the part of the co-op accepting payment is minimal. The free service is an electronic transfer from your bank account to the co-op’s. With your permission, your bank deducts the amount of the electric bill each month from your checking or savings account. Participants continue to receive an itemized statement of their electric bill. Ten days after the bill is mailed, the amount is deducted from your account and reflected on your bank statement. (If 10 days falls on Saturday or Sunday, then the amount is deducted the following Monday.) Enroll in automatic bank draft through the member account portal at www.naeci.com, at a co-op office or via a telephone call with required documentation. Co-op offices may be reached at 870-895-3221, 870-425-2141 and 870-994-2191.
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Bobbie Joe Johnson, second from left, won the 2016 Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest. She is pictured with, from left, Bret Curry, manager of residential energy marketing for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas; Tori Moss, NAEC marketing and communications director; and Wayne Winter, NAEC member services supervisor.
Johnson wins makeover contest Bobbie Joe Johnson of Ash Flat recently was named as North Arkansas Electric Cooperative’s grand prize winner in the 2016 Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest. Johnson and 16 winning members’ homes from the state’s other electric cooperatives will receive up to $5,000 in energy efficiency improvements. According to Bret Curry, manager of residential energy marketing for Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, the common theme among the 17 homes is higher than average electrical consumption per square foot of living space and complaints about having to sacrifice comfort in order to keep the electric bill affordable. Winners’ homes will receive a comprehensive energy audit of a blower door air infiltration test, a ductwork leakage test and infrared thermal imaging scan. After diagnosis of the energy problems, a team of experts will install additional attic insulation; seal and insulate whole-house attic fans and attic access points; caulk and seal unwanted air leaks; and reconnect, seal and insulate the ductwork. Winners also will receive a heating and cooling system tune-up and LED bright stik™ bulbs courtesy of General Electric. Follow progress of the efficiency makeovers at www.ecahomemakeover.com or www.facebook.com/SmartEnergyTips.org/.
Magician weaves safety into show Fulton County Fair Kids Day participants help magician Scott Davis remind everyone to stop, look and think when near electricity to stay safe. North Arkansas Electric Cooperative sponsored the “Making Accidents Disappear” electrical safety magic show in the new Salem Civic Center on July 29.
Visit us at www.naeci.com.
September 2016 • Page 2
Daily Highs & Lows — July 2016 110
Average Daily High: 93.4 compared to 95.57 in 2015
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Average Daily Low: 70.3 compared to 71.18 in 2015
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Total Rainfall Amount: 6.37" compared to 2.03" in 2015 Warmest Day: July 22, 101.6 degrees at 3:30 p.m.
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Coolest Day: July 16, 63.6 degrees at 6:30 a.m.
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HAPPY
LABOR DAY!
Co-op offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 5, for Labor Day. Crews will be on hand in the event of an outage. Please report an outage by calling 870-895-3221, 870-425-2141 or 870-994-2191.
Right-of-Way Locations West Tree Trim Crews: Cherokee Village area ROW Spraying: Vidette, Henderson, Gepp, Viola, Salem, Moko, Camp and Mammoth Spring
Don't poke around electrical substations, equipment On nice days, people enjoy the outdoors in a variety of ways. Some participate in a sport or go on walks, but many others spend this time on handheld devices. Whether you are enjoying fun in the sun or playing the latest game on your phone or tablet, the co-op advises everyone to be alert of their surroundings and to stay safely away from electrical equipment. Buzzing with hundreds of thousands of volts of electricity, an electrical substation is not a place you want to end up. Never go into a substation for any reason. Never attempt to retrieve a ball or any toy from these areas. There is no game or piece of equipment important enough to enter a substation. No game is worth your life. Many popular gaming apps, such as Pokémon Go, make use of handheld devices' GPS feature. Although these games may persuade you to go to places you have never been before, do not allow these games to impair your judgment. Stay alert, and stay away from substations and other electrical equipment. “We encourage parents to talk to their children about the importance of keeping a safe distance from electrical equipment and substations as well,” says Molly Hall, executive director of the Energy Education Council and its Safe Electricity program. If you see someone enter an electrical substation that should not be there, call the authorities and NAEC immediately. The only people who should enter a substation are utility workers. “Also, never climb power poles or trees near power lines, and stay far away from downed power lines. They do not have to be arcing or sparking to be energized,” adds Hall. Get more safety tips at SafeElectricity.org.
Stay safe while playing Pokémon Go and other gaming apps. Avoid substations and other electrical equipment.