2024 May NAEC Center Page

5 WAYS TO SAVE THIS SUMMER

When summer temperatures rise, so do our energy bills. Here are a few ways you can reduce energy use and grow your summer savings.

1. Raise your thermostat. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperature, the more you’ll save.

2. Install window coverings like blinds or light-blocking curtains to prevent indoor heat gain during the day.

3. Seal leaks with caulk and weatherstripping around windows and exterior doors. Air leaks force your air conditioner to work harder and run longer than necessary.

4. Run ceiling fans for additional cooling, but turn them off when you leave the room.

5. Lower your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees to reduce standby heat loss.

Members will receive ballots in May

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) will conduct the election for two board of director positions, one from Fulton County and one from Baxter County. Both positions are atlarge voting, so all NAEC members regardless of location are eligible to vote on both positions.

Members will receive an envelope with the NAEC logo from Survey & Ballot Systems around the third week of May. The Minnesota company is handling the election and tabulation of votes on behalf of NAEC.

Along with the ballot, the envelope will include the 2023 Annual Report, candidate biographies and a prepaid postage return envelope to mail the ballot to Survey & Ballot Systems.

Ballots cannot be given to NAEC. They must be mailed to Survey & Ballot Systems and received by June 14 to be considered valid.

Members on the nominating committee (James Elbert, Izard County; Joe Dillard, system-atlarge; Richard Hanson, Baxter County; Randy Jones, Sharp County; and Jeremy Stone, Fulton County) met April 9 and reviewed résumés for the positions. After consideration, they nominated: Beth Carter, Baxter County; and Ted Kerley, Fulton County. A petition also was received from Steve Hall of Fulton County. Results will be published in The Messenger and at naeci.com

The 2024 Annual Meeting will entail only a business session at the co-op’s Salem headquarters at 10 a.m. June 18. Members can watch the meeting live at naeci.com; a recording also will be available.

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FOLLOW NAEC Twitter.com/NorthARElectric Facebook.com/NorthARElectric NAEC's offices will be closed May 27 in observance of Memorial Day. We honor those who died serving our country. A dispatcher will be on duty, and personnel will be on call in the event of an outage.

NEXT, Powered by NAEC donates $8,000 to help aid in the purchase of bulletproof vests and other tactical gear for local sheriffs' offices. Pictured, from left, are: Izard County Sheriff Charley Melton, Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery, NEXT Chief Operating Officer Scott Hamby, NEXT Director of Business Development and Marketing Cortney Varner, Sharp County Sheriff Shane Russell, Fulton County Sheriff Jake Smith and NAEC/NEXT CEO Mel Coleman.

Look out for electric hazards

May marks Electrical Safety Month

When it comes to electrical safety, take time to understand important do’s and don’ts! May is Electrical Safety Month, which promotes awareness of electrical safety and the importance of taking proper precautions when dealing with electricity.

Examine your home for any potential fire hazards with these tips:

• Electrical outlets never should be overloaded. Be sure ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are installed in bathrooms, kitchens and other areas where a water source is present.

• Conduct regular tests to ensure your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are working properly. Every year, more than 358,000 home fires occur in the U.S. It only takes a second and could save a life.

• Check your electrical cords. Even the slightest bit of fraying creates a safety risk. Remember: Extension cords only should be used temporarily.

• Avoid water around electric appliances. Keep electrical cords away from sinks, bathtubs and pools. If a device gets wet, unplug it, and let it dry completely before using it again.

• Teach children about electrical safety by telling them not to stick objects into outlets and never to touch electronics with wet hands.

Electrical safety is crucial for every household every day to prevent accidents, fires and injuries. Find more safety tips at safeelectricity.org.

Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly, and replace each alarm at least once every 10 years. Never disable them to silence a low-battery alarm.