MEL COLEMAN CEO
Be ready for storm season
Preparedness is
the
best defense for severe weather
Springtime brings many favorite activities like cooking outdoors, working in the yard or garden and simply slowing down a bit to enjoy life. Unfortunately, spring and summer can also create the perfect conditions for severe storms.
North Arkansas Electric crews are always prepared and standing by to respond should power outages occur in our area. When severe storms cause power disruptions, our line crews take all necessary precautions before they get to work on any downed lines.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends the items below as a starting point for storm and disaster preparedness.
• Stock your pantry with a three-day supply of nonperishable food, including canned goods, energy bars, peanut butter, powdered milk, instant coffee, water and other essentials (such as diapers and toiletries).
• Confirm that you have adequate sanitation and hygiene supplies, including towelettes, soap and hand sanitizer.
• Ensure your First Aid kit is stocked with pain relievers, bandages and other medical essentials, and make sure your prescriptions are current.
• Set aside basic household items you will need, including flashlights, batteries, a manual can opener and portable, battery-powered radio or TV.
• Organize emergency supplies so they are easily accessible in one location.
In the event of a prolonged power outage, turn off major appliances, TVs, computers and other sensitive electronics, but leave one light on so you will know when power is restored.
If you plan to use a portable generator, make sure it’s rated to handle the amount of power you will need, and always review the manufacturer’s instructions to operate it safely.
Severe storms can occasionally bring down power lines. If you see a downed line, always assume it’s energized and never approach it. If flooding occurs, never walk through areas where power lines could be submerged.
Advance planning for severe storms can reduce stress and anxiety caused by the weather event and lessen the impact of the storm’s effects. Report outages by using the NAEC app or the form on the Outage Viewer at naeci.com or by calling (870) 895-3221. Visit ready.gov for additional resources.
Scholarship applications due April 1
Scholarship applications due April 1
Scholarship applications due April 1
The North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) member-funded Operation Round Up® program awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to local graduating high school seniors each year. In 2024, 15 students were awarded $1,000 scholarships, and three students were awarded $4,000 scholarships to be disbursed in $1,000 installments for up to four years.
The North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) member-funded Operation Round Up® program awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to local graduating high school seniors each year. In 2024, 15 students were awarded $1,000 scholarships, and three students were awarded $4,000 scholarships to be disbursed in $1,000 installments for up to four years.
The North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) member-funded Operation Round Up® program awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to local graduating high school seniors each year. In 2024, 15 students were awarded $1,000 scholarships, and three students were awarded $4,000 scholarships to be disbursed in $1,000 installments for up to four years.
NAEC is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 scholarship program. The application is available at naeci.com or through high school counselors’ offices.
NAEC is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 scholarship program. The application is available at naeci.com or through high school counselors’ offices.
NAEC is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 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 1. They must include a transcript and two letters of recommendation — with at least one from a nonschool employee who is not a relative.
Applicants must mail or deliver the typed application to NAEC by April 1. They must include a transcript and two letters of recommendation — with at least one from a nonschool employee who is not a relative.
Applicants must mail or deliver the typed application to NAEC by April 1. They must include a transcript and two letters of recommendation — with at least one from a nonschool employee who is not a relative.
To be eligible for the scholarship, high school seniors must graduate at the end of the 2025 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, NAEC marketing and communications director, at (870) 895-6210 or tmoss@naeci.com
To be eligible for the scholarship, high school seniors must graduate at the end of the 2025 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, NAEC marketing and communications director, at (870) 895-6210 or tmoss@naeci.com
To be eligible for the scholarship, high school seniors must graduate at the end of the 2025 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, NAEC marketing and communications director, at (870) 895-6210 or tmoss@naeci.com
Members can help fund future scholarships by enrolling their accounts in Operation Round Up. Volunteers allow their electric bills to be "rounded up" to the next dollar each month. Call (870) 895-3221 to join today!
Members can help fund future scholarships by enrolling their accounts in Operation Round Up. Volunteers allow their electric bills to be "rounded up" to the next dollar each month. Call (870) 895-3221 to join today!
Members can help fund future scholarships by enrolling their accounts in Operation Round Up. Volunteers allow their electric bills to be "rounded up" to the next dollar each month. Call (870) 895-3221 to join today!
Auto bank draft: Members' easiest payment option
Auto bank draft: Members' easiest payment option
Auto bank draft: Members' easiest payment option
Automatic bank draft is the most convenient payment method NAEC offers. Enrolling in this free service ensures the bill is paid on time each month. It also eliminates the cost of a stamp or time spent in the drivethrough lane.
Automatic bank draft is the most convenient payment method NAEC offers. Enrolling in this free service ensures the bill is paid on time each month. It also eliminates the cost of a stamp or time spent in the drivethrough lane.
Automatic bank draft is the most convenient payment method NAEC offers. Enrolling in this free service ensures the bill is paid on time each month. It also eliminates the cost of a stamp or time spent in the drivethrough lane.
Automatic bank draft is an electronic transfer from your checking or savings account to NAEC’s each month. On or about the 14th of every month, the amount of the bill is deducted from your account.
Automatic bank draft is an electronic transfer from your checking or savings account to NAEC’s each month. On or about the 14th of every month, the amount of the bill is deducted from your account.
Automatic bank draft is an electronic transfer from your checking or savings account to NAEC’s each month. On or about the 14th of every month, the amount of the bill is deducted from your account.
To enroll your account(s) in auto bank draft, call (870) 895-3221 or visit an NAEC office during regular business hours.
To enroll your account(s) in auto bank draft, call (870) 895-3221 or visit an NAEC office during regular business hours.
To enroll your account(s) in auto bank draft, call (870) 895-3221 or visit an NAEC office during regular business hours.
Up-to-date contact info important
Up-to-date contact info important
Up-to-date contact info important
Sending an automated call when your home is going to be part of a planned outage or mailing a capital credits check are only two of the many reasons why NAEC might need to contact you. It's important to keep a current mailing address and at least one phone number and email on file. To update or check your contact information, call (870) 895-3221, visit an NAEC office or submit a form available at naeci.com/contact-naec.
Sending an automated call when your home is going to be part of a planned outage or mailing a capital credits check are only two of the many reasons why NAEC might need to contact you. It's important to keep a current mailing address and at least one phone number and email on file. To update or check your contact information, call (870) 895-3221, visit an NAEC office or submit a form available at naeci.com/contact-naec.
Sending an automated call when your home is going to be part of a planned outage or mailing a capital credits check are only two of the many reasons why NAEC might need to contact you. It's important to keep a current mailing address and at least one phone number and email on file. To update or check your contact information, call (870) 895-3221, visit an NAEC office or submit a form available at naeci.com/contact-naec.
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REPORT OUTAGE (870) 895-3221 (844) 335-4461 NAEC App naeci.com ▶ Outage Viewer
REPORT OUTAGE (870) 895-3221 (844) 335-4461 NAEC App naeci.com ▶ Outage Viewer
FOLLOW NAEC Twitter.com/NorthARElectric Facebook.com/NorthARElectric
FOLLOW NAEC Twitter.com/NorthARElectric Facebook.com/NorthARElectric
High school juniors have until March 5 to submit an application for Youth Tour, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia June 14-20. Download the application at naeci.com.
High school juniors have until March 5 to submit an application for Youth Tour, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia June 14-20. Download the application at naeci.com.
FOLLOW NAEC Twitter.com/NorthARElectric Facebook.com/NorthARElectric High school juniors have until March 5 to submit an application for Youth Tour, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia June 14-20. Download the application at naeci.com.
Fail-safe Plans
A wise approach to HVAC equipment replacement
BY MITCH ROSS
I recently listened to a biography of Benjamin Franklin. He was such an impressive individual — full of wisdom, ingenuity, patriotism and a certain spunkiness that has left a lasting impression on our nation. I hadn’t realized until listening to the biography that, due to his early experiments with and study of electricity, we have a host of electrical terms coined by him such as battery, positive, negative and many more.
I appreciate his way with words. In addition to his early contributions to the lexicon of electricity, there are many wise quips and phrases that come from his writings. One that came to mind in a recent energy audit is “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” I wish I could say that this phrase is rarely applicable, but I often see folks who “fail” when it comes to their energy usage due to a lack of planning and preparation.
One of the most painful instances of this happening is when people have recently had HVAC equipment replaced and are still seeing high bills. In some cases, people replace a more than 15-year-old system with a modern one and see HIGHER bills!
What often happens is that during the hottest or coldest weather of the season, people will, due to lack of planning and preparation, experience a true emergency. Their old HVAC system will go out on them, plunging their home into uncomfortable or even dangerous temperatures. They will call around and get the first available person out to come and replace the unit, often in a huge rush during the contractor’s busy season.
What I’ve seen time and again with these scenarios is that, due to the situation being a crisis, homeowners are left with little time to seek out a solid contractor and pick out the right unit for their homes. The higher bills can be due to poor workmanship or oversized units or — in some very disappointing cases — a contractor taking out an old, but fairly efficient heat pump system and replacing it with strip heat, which usually leads to higher winter bills than before!
For this reason, I always advise homeowners replace a unit that is 14+ years old before it goes out. This offers the homeowner several benefits:
• More time to study and pick a good, efficient unit such as an 18+ SEER heat pump that is sized appropriately for the home.
• Avoidance of discomfort and emergencies.
• Electric bill savings and increased comfort.
Don’t let your failure to plan be the reason you have an emergency and a negative experience when replacing your HVAC unit!
Mitch Ross is the energy efficiency manager for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.
North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) loans qualified members money at low interest for energy-efficiency improvements, such as a heat pump or insulation, to their existing homes and businesses through the USDA Rural Energy Savings Program. The application is at naeci.com/loans.