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.