North Arkansas Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up® program awarded scholarships to 18 recent high school graduates.
Fifteen students will receive one-time scholarships of $1,000. Three students — Chance Harber, Izabel Harmon and Cade Yates — each will receive $1,000 toward their college education annually for up to four years.
High school seniors may apply for the next round of scholarships beginning Feb. 1. The application will be posted at naeci.com and available through high school counselors.
Members can help fund future scholarships by enrolling their electric accounts in Operation Round Up.
Participants agree to have their monthly electric bills “rounded up” to the nearest dollar. For example, a bill of $125.60 would become $126. To enroll, please call (870) 895-3221 or mention it while at an NAEC office.
Donations are placed in a trust and administered by a five-member independent board of community leaders.
Lance Burris Highland Braiden Dewey Mountain Home Calli Dilbeck Cotter
Carly Hardin Mountain Home
Izabel Harmon Highland
Briley Hickman Mountain Home
Quade Perryman Viola
Haylee Silzell Mountain Home
Hunter Sizemore Salem
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS
NAEC recommends having a licensed HVAC technician inspect your system annually. He or she can inspect ducts, filters, blower and indoor coil for dirt and other obstructions; seal any duct leakage; verify correct refrigerant charge; and inspect system for any other needed maintenance or repairs. This will help ensure your system is operating efficiently and likely will extend its life.
Electricity supplier seeks rate adjustment
North Arkansas Electric Cooperative's (NAEC's) wholesale electricity supplier, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC), is seeking to adjust wholesale power rates to provide an additional 5% in wholesale revenues.
The request was filed in December with the Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC). If approved by the APSC, NAEC estimates that the adjustment would raise the average monthly NAEC residential member’s bill by $4.44. Money generated from the rate adjustment would be applied strictly to wholesale costs. No money from the rate adjustment will go to NAEC.
AECC's reason for the rate adjustment is due to the need to recover the increased cost of providing wholesale generation and transmission service to NAEC and the 16 other electric distribution co-ops, which includes operation and maintenance expenses and investment credit compensation AECC provides to the co-ops, as well as increased costs resulting from above-average economic inflation.
As a member-owned cooperative, NAEC is not concerned with stock prices or stockholder profits. It is our obligation to be upfront with our members about any and all issues, especially those that impact them financially. NAEC has passed through two wholesale rate decreases and three wholesale rate increases since 1984.
NAEC strives to keep retail rates in check. The co-op's mission remains to provide affordable, responsible and reliable electricity to the members we serve.
NAEC's offices will be closed Sept. 2 in observance of Labor Day. A dispatcher will be on duty, and personnel will be on call in the event of an outage. Report an outage to the NAEC app or (870) 895-3221.
Osmose employees are inspecting poles throughout the service area. Affected members will receive a postcard as well as an email if an adddress is on file. Inspections allow damaged poles to be repaired or replaced before causing outages.
Madeline Keen Salem
Aliyah Snow
Cody Downs Flippin
Chance Harber Salem
Arkansas Electric Cooperative line personnel and family members get ready for the Mountain Home-Town Christmas Parade. NAEC employees also brought the decked-out bucket truck to the Salem Christmas parade.
NAEC members
elect Carter, Kerley to board
North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) members elected Beth Carter of Mountain Home and Ted Kerley of Salem to six-year terms on the NAEC Board of Directors in June.
Survey & Ballot Systems of Minnesota conducted the election on NAEC’s behalf. The company mailed each member a ballot, candidate biographies and 2023 Annual Report in May. Ballots received by Survey & Ballot Systems by June 14 were considered valid.
Attorney Roger Morgan announced the election results during the 84th Annual Meeting at NAEC’s Salem office June 18. Survey & Ballot Systems received 3,584 ballots from NAEC members.
Incumbent Carter was nominated by the nominating committee for the Baxter County position and ran unopposed. She received 2,696 votes.
For the Fulton County position, Kerley was nominated by the nominating committee, and incumbent Steve Hall of Salem was nominated by petition. Kerley received 2,260 votes; Hall received 941 votes.
CEO Mel Coleman and senior staff also shared updates on their respective areas. A recording of the meeting is posted on the Annual Meeting section of naeci.com
NAEC thanks the members of the nominating committee for their work.
D.C. delegates
BEAT
THE SUMMER PEAK
When we work together to lower electricity use during peak hours, we can lock in lower electricity rates so everyone saves. Here are a few ways to help.
• Raise the thermostat a few degrees.
• Use ceiling fans (in occupied rooms) to feel cooler.
• Avoid using major appliances.
• Close drapes and blinds to block heat from the sun.
• Turn off and unplug non-essential electronics and lights.
North Arkansas Electric Cooperative's delegates on the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour visit the White House during the all-expenses-paid trip June 15-21. Pictured, from left, are Allyson Tanner, Kira Duncan, Callie Hall and Haydyn Friend. High school juniors can apply in February.
