north arkansas electric cooperative
17 grads get Round Up scholarships
Estimate savings, research costs before committing to home solar installation North Arkansas Electric Cooperative personnel have heard from an increasing number of members who have bought or financed solar installations and are dissatisfied with their electric bills or confused about the netmetering process. NAEC recommends members considering solar become familiar with the net-metering section of the co-op's tariff filed with the Arkansas Public Service Commission. It is available at naeci.com/solar and includes the preliminary interconnection site review request form and standard interconnection agreement for net-metering facilities that must be completed before a solar installation can connect to NAEC's distribution system. Members should consider the payback and ensure any estimates provided by licensed and insured vendors are using NAEC's kWh rates and taking into consideration the minimum daily charge. Many have installed solar panels and then have electric bills plus solar loan payments that are higher than their previous electric bills. NAEC also recommends members contact their insurance provider to see if their policy will be affected. Members with questions about the purchase, installation or net metering of a solar array can email solar@naeci.com or call 870895-3221. 22
SEPTEMBER 2022 NORTH ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
North Arkansas Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up® program awarded a scholarship to 17 recent high school graduates. Fifteen students will receive a one-time scholarship of $1,000. New this year is a recurring scholarship worth a total of $4,000. Two students — Joia Traver and Zane Fountain — each will receive $1,000 toward their college education annually for up to four years. High school seniors may apply for the next round of scholarships after Feb. 1. The application will be posted at naeci.com and available through high school counselors. Members can help fund future scholarships by enrolling their electric account or accounts in Operation Round Up. Participants agree to have their monthly electric bill “rounded up” to the nearest dollar. For example, a bill of $85.60 would become $86. Donations are placed in a trust and administered by a five-member independent board of community leaders. The volunteer board evaluates all requests and determines how Operation Round Up funds are distributed. Since its inception, more than $207,000 in college scholarships, grants to community organizations and disaster relief has been awarded. In July, the board awarded $500 to the Fulton County Senior Life Program to help provide meals for senior citizens. The application for a donation is available to download at naeci.com/operation-round-up.
SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT — Join Operation Round Up! Enroll your electric account(s) by visiting naeci.com/operation-round-up, calling 870-895-3221 or mentioning Operation Round Up while in the drive-thru. The average annual donation per account is just $6, but that adds up to a lot of good when many participate.
Weston Cox Mtn. Home Christian
Kaylee Drake Mountain Home
Zane Fountain Calico Rock
Harrison Gillihan Melbourne
Matthew Graddy Highland
Isabella Hall Calico Rock
Madison Hall Norfork
Rachel Howald Mountain Home
Julie Hurst Mammoth Spring
Chloe Jamora Homeschool
Alexander Jordan Mountain Home
Ashlynn Sanders Salem
Jaycie Strong Salem
Joia Traver Mountain Home
Cassidy Walling Salem
Amber Weber Mountain Home More co-op news on page 26
NORTH ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
my co-op
Annie Blevins Melbourne
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north arkansas electric cooperative
Report outage by phone, web or mobile app NAEC requests members always report an outage. This often helps employees pinpoint the outage’s cause and restore service quicker. The co-op offers three ways for members to notify the dispatch center of an outage.
Reporting via Phone
Please call 870-895-3221.
Reporting via Mobile App
Log in to the app and complete the following steps: • Select the account experiencing an outage. • Tap the menu icon in the top left corner. • Tap the “Report an Outage” menu option. • Add your phone number and any comments, such as the outage cause, if known. • Tap “Report an Outage.” The app will confirm your outage has been submitted to our dispatch center.
Reporting via Outage Viewer Visit naeci.com. Click on “Outage Viewer” under the “Outage Center” menu tab. Then click the “Report Outage” link, and enter the requested information.
North Arkansas Electric Cooperative employees attend the Emerson opening celebration in Ash Flat on July 29. Pictured, from left: Jason Strong, NAEC vice president of engineering; Graycen Bigger, Northeast Arkansas Regional Intermodal Authority executive director; Mel Coleman, NAEC CEO; Kevin Reese; NAEC senior system engineer; James Woody, NAEC vice president of operations; and JD Lowery, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas manager of community and economic development.
Emerson celebrates opening Emerson celebrated the opening of its 277,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Ash Flat on July 29 with many of its local and state supporters. The global company invested $35 million to turn the existing industrial structure into a modern manufacturing plant for its professional tools business, including Greenlee® tools for the electric industry. "North Arkansas Electric Cooperative is proud to provide electricity to Emerson's impressive facility," CEO Mel Coleman said. "The co-op's goal is to deliver reliable, affordable service for all of our members, and we appreciate how vital that is for manufacturers in today's competitive global market." More than 150 employees work at the facility, and an additional 135 positions are expected in the next four years, according to the company's news release. Recruitment and hiring for various positions and production shifts is ongoing. This include assemblers, welders and CNC machine operators.
22 26 SEPTEMBER 2022 NORTH ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE