2023 March NAECI Center Pages

A MESSAGE FROM MEL COLEMAN, NAEC CEO

Members' Reliable, Affordable Electricity at Risk

Since 1939, North Arkansas Electric Cooperative has provided our members with reliable and affordable electricity. That mission is getting more difficult due to many factors that, sadly, are outside of our distribution co-op’s control.

I’m talking about higher fuel costs caused by increased demand for natural gas, which is a publicly traded commodity; coal plant closures due to governmental regulations and litigation from environmental groups; railroad manipulation of coal deliveries to generating plants; lack of investment in new nuclear generation; and a growing reliance on intermittent generation resources, such as solar and wind.

Our members can see the volatility of the energy markets play out in the high power cost adjustments on their statements the past year. This line item is how NAEC adjusts for the increase or decrease in the cost of generating fuels and expensive market purchases of power.

Due in large part to the natural gas market, these costs change rapidly, especially during extreme weather. Rather than changing the co-op’s base kilowatt hour rate every month, we use this line to pass on either additional costs or savings to members.

For all but one month in the past year, the power cost adjustment has been a charge due to increased fuel costs our wholesale power provider Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation had to pay.

The United States cannot just stop building power plants and/or shut down perfectly good plants and not expect increased energy costs and curtailments, or temporary rolling blackouts, to be a possibility.

If we want reliable, affordable electricity, then the madness of shuttering our power plants must

stop. Attacks from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have been underway for 20 years, and they’re working – to the detriment of the average Arkansan.

Wind and solar have a role in a diverse generation mix, but they are intermittent resources not constantly available. In time, and with new technology, they will provide much more reliable power.

However, shutting down perfectly good baseload – available 24/7 – generation, such as coal-fired and natural gas plants, lacks common sense.

The current situation will only get worse with Entergy Arkansas agreeing to shut down two coal plants, on which Arkansans rely, in 2028 and 2030. Those coal plants going offline will contribute to increased energy costs and decreased reliability for all of us in the state.

One of the worst decisions the U.S. made was halting construction of nuclear power plants. Extremists and government regulation stopped that.

Nuclear and responsible coal generation need to be back on the table, or we’ll be living with higher and higher energy bills, as well as regular threats of rolling blackouts during periods of bitter cold or sweltering heat.

Without a focus on baseload generation resources of nuclear, natural gas and coal, reliability and affordability will be a thing of the past — if they aren't already.

NAEC and other electric co-ops will continue to advocate for a balanced mix of generation. We could use our members’ help by making your voices heard.

For more information, email info@naeci.com or call 870-895-3221.

Juniors can apply for Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative will provide an all-expenses-paid trip June 16-22 to Washington, D.C., for up to five local teenagers. Youth Tour applicants must be high school juniors during the 2022-2023 school year, and their parents or guardians must be NAEC members.

After reviewing applications, NAEC will select applicants for interviews to determine the winners. The application is at naeci.com/youth-tour. NAEC must receive applications by March 17.

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.

OUTAGE REPORTING — North Arkansas Electric Cooperative members always should report their outages. The co-op has four ways to report an outage and reach dispatchers on duty:

• NAEC mobile app

• Outage Viewer — It's found under the Outage Center tab at naeci.com. Click "Report Outage," and enter your information.

• 870-895-3221

• 844-335-4461 — The system will pull up your account automatically if the number you are calling from is on your account.

Applicants also must have a GPA 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 accounts in Operation Round Up. Volunteers allow their bill to be "rounded up" to the next dollar each month.

Clear right-of-way vital for reliable service

Power lines and trees can be a dangerous combination if they come into contact. Trees touching — or worse, falling into — power lines cause outages or blinks and also create safety hazards for line personnel and members of the public.

That's why North Arkansas Electric Cooperative considers regular maintenance of its right-of-way — the land below, above and on either side of the power lines — to be vital in providing members with reliable electric service.

NAEC personnel and contractors work to maintain a minimum clearance of 15 feet on either side of our power lines, including service drops to members' homes and businesses.

"In addition to increasing our right-of-way easement to 60 feet in past years, we have made a concerted effort to remove as many trees and vegetation from under our lines as possible," said James Woody, vice president of operations. "We ask members not to plant trees and shrubs near our lines."

Plant Trees Safely

NO TREE ZONE

Avoid planting shrubs or trees within 30 feet of the power lines. Any vegetation taller than 10 feet will be trimmed or removed.

Maintaining the right-of-way through tree-trimming and removal is not only NAEC’s responsibility, but it also is required by the Arkansas Public Service Commission and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

In addition to considering the mature height of trees before planting, members can help maintain the right-of-way and keep service reliable by:

• Calling NAEC at 870-895-3221 if a dead tree is in danger of falling on lines or branches are touching lines. Please note: Dead trees will be cut but not removed by co-op personnel.

• Keeping the area on either side of NAEC’s lines or equipment clear of vehicles, deer stands, buildings or other structures.

• Considering the placement of fences and gates within the easement, as NAEC will need access to the lines and equipment for maintenance and outage-restoration purposes. Email info@naeci.com for more information.

MEDIUM

TREE ZONE

Plant medium trees (under 40 feet when mature) at least 30 feet away from power lines.

LARGE

TREE ZONE

Plant large trees (over 40 feet when mature) at least 50 feet away from lines.