2023 February NAEC Center Pages

Explore monuments and museums!

Visit with U.S. senators and representatives!

Meet students from across the country!

APPLY NOW! — North Arkansas Electric Cooperative is accepting applications for the 2023 Youth Tour. Up to five high school juniors will be selected for the all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., June 16-22. Download the application at naeci.com/youth-tour. NAEC must receive completed applications by March 17. Call 870-895-6210 with any questions.

Research before going solar

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative encourages members to analyze the pros and cons before buying or leasing a solar facility. Questions to consider in advance include:

• Is the estimated energy savings worth the investment? Will your average monthly electric bill exceed the monthly payment for your solar facility plus your minimum NAEC bill? The electric distribution charge is commonly called a minimum bill and is $1.04 a day for a residential single-phase service. It is intended to cover the fixed costs of the service.

• Do any estimated savings provided by the solar vendor use NAEC’s kWh rates and factor in NAEC’s electric distribution charge?

• Is it more cost-effective to invest in other energy-saving measures, such as a new air-source heat pump or more insulation?

• Do you understand the net-metering billing process outlined in NAEC’s tariff approved by the Arkansas Public Service Commission? (View at naeci.com/solar.)

• Is the vendor licensed and insured? Are local references available?

• Are there any hidden costs, such as a roof that needs to be replaced before installing the panels? What would the cost be to reinstall panels if a roof must be replaced?

• Are there ongoing maintenance fees?

• Are rebates or other incentives available?

• How will it affect your property insurance? For more information, visit naeci.com/solar or call NAEC at 870-895-3221.

Round Up scholarship applications due April 13

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative's member-funded Operation Round Up® program awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to local graduating high school seniors each year.

In 2022, 15 students were awarded $1,000 scholarships, and two students were awarded $4,000 scholarships to be disbursed in $1,000 annual installments for up to four years.

NAEC is accepting applications for the 2023-2024 scholarship program. The application is available at naeci.com or through high school counselors’ offices.

Applicants must mail or deliver the typed application to NAEC by April 13. They must include a high school transcript and three letters of recommendation.

To be eligible for the scholarship, high school seniors must graduate at the end of the 2023 school year, and their parents or legal guardians must be NAEC members.

Applicants also must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale through the first semester of senior year. The scholarship must be used to attend an accredited institute of higher learning on a full-time basis.

For more information, please contact Tori Moss at tmoss@naeci.com or 870-895-6210.

Members can help fund future scholarships by enrolling their account(s) in Operation Round Up. Volunteers allow their bill to be "rounded up" to the next dollar each month.