Welcome to First Electric Cooperative!
We’re excited to have you as a member. First Electric is a not for profit organization owned by its members. Our mission is to improve quality of life by providing you with safe, reliable and affordable power. Our General Service Information for members summarizes some of the rights and obligations of the cooperative and its members, as adopted by the Arkansas Public Service Commission. Please read it carefully and let us know if you have any questions. GENERAL SERVICE INFORMATION
Please call or stop by any of our five offices if you have questions or need information. Visit our website to learn more about ways to pay your bill, outage reporting, energy savings tips, and more! VISIT OUR WEBSITE
By applying to First Electric and agreeing to accept electric service from it, you are agreeing to become a member of the Cooperative. In doing so, it is important that you understand that you are agreeing to the following conditions of membership: (1) To conform with and be bound by the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Cooperative and rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Directors of the Cooperative, all as they now exist or may hereafter be in effect, and to purchase electric service in accordance with such governing documents and the policies and rate schedules established by the Cooperative and approved by the Arkansas Public Service Commission or as may become effective in the manner prescribed by law. These documents and the Cooperative’s statement of nondiscrimination are available upon request. (2) $7.00 from your yearly electric bill will be allocated for a subscription to Arkansas Living. If, for any reason, the terms of membership are not acceptable to you, please notify the Cooperative of your objection to the conditions of membership in writing within 30 days of the date of this letter. If First Electric fails to receive your notice of objection to the conditions of membership within this 30 day period, then upon payment of your membership fee and any required deposit and approval of your membership by the Board of Directors of the Cooperative, you shall become a member of the Cooperative and be deemed to have agreed to the conditions of membership.
Ways To Pay AUTO BANK DRAFT Sign up for Auto Bank Draft, and each month your bank account will be drafted on the due date for the amount of your electric bill. LEVELIZED BILLING Budgeting monthly expenses can become easier with Levelized Billing, which prevents drastic changes in your electric bills, even in the coldest or warmest months of the year. Pre-qualification is required. PAPERLESS BILLING Sign-up for Paperless Billing and have your electric bill securely delivered to your e-mail inbox each month. It’s safe, easy and convenient. Sign up at www.firstelectric.coop.
PREPAID Prepaid is a billing option that lets members pay in advance for their electric service. Enrolling in Prepaid is free, and rates for usage are the same as postpaid residential accounts. Call 800-4897405 or visit an office to sign up or for more information. SMARTHUB Visit www.firstelectric.coop to pay your bill with SmartHub. It provides e-mail notification, usage, billing and payment history. MasterCard, Visa, Discover and electronic checks are accepted. A free app also is available.
MORE WAYS TO PAY
Outage Reporting
First Electric works hard to maintain safe, reliable power, but sometimes outages happen due to weather or other uncontrollable circumstances. Report your outage in any of these ways:
• Call 888-827-3322 - If our automated system doesn’t recognize your number, it will ask for the one on file. • Use the SmartHub website or app - Download SmartHub, our free online app and just click “Report an Outage”. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for outage information and updates. VIEW OUR OUTAGE MAP
Energy Efficiency Products & Services GENERLINK GenerLink™ is a safe, easy way to connect a home generator. The device eliminates the dangerous use of extension cords and is installed behind the electric meter by a First Electric employee. SECURITY LIGHTING First Electric has a variety of outdoor lighting options that provide additional safety and convenience to your home, farm or business. SURGE HELP First Electric members can enroll in Surge HELP for financial protection from surge damage for their homes’ electronics and appliances. WALK-THROUGH & DIAGNOSTIC AUDITS Marketing reps conduct two types of energy audits for members. Walk-through energy audits are free. Diagnostic audits cost $100 which is reimburseable with at least $100 spent on energy efficiency repairs. To schedule, call 800-489-7405 and ask to speak with a marketing rep. VISIT OUR WEBSITE
Live Wire March News LINEMEN PART OF MISSION IN GUATEMALA First Electric linemen Shawn Hammonds, Zack Lewis and Chris Wiles traveled to Guatemala with 13 other linemen to provide electric service for more than 105 villagers of Las Tortugas and San Jorge who had never had electrical service. YOUTH TOUR, SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINES Applications are being accepted for our scholarship program and the 2018 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. Scholarship application deadline is April 2. Youth Tour application deadline is March 16. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT KEEPS POWER RELIABLE First Electric works hard to maintain its right-of-way near overhead lines to provide safe and reliable electrical service for our members. In 2017, 17 percent of First Electric's power interruptions occurred from trees or other vegetation near power lines. Members can report trees near utility lines by calling 800-489-7405. For more information, go to www.firstelectric.coop/safety/vegetation-management. VIEW MORE NEWS
Youth Tour & Scholarships First Electric offers two great opportunities for youth. High school juniors can explore the nation’s capital on the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Funded through Operation Round-Up, First Electric awards a $2,000 scholarship to one high school senior in each of our five districts. Any junior whose parents or guardians are members of First Electric may submit a Youth Tour application. Winners are selected based on information supplied on the application and a personal interview.
High school seniors can apply for one of five $2,000 scholarships. To be eligible, applicants must be a high school senior whose parents or guardians are members of First Electric. They must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average through their senior year of high school and after graduation attend an accredited institute of higher learning in Arkansas on a full-time basis.
APPLY FOR YOUTH TOUR
APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
Capital Credits: Your Money Back to You!
First Electric is a service-driven electric provider, not a profit-driven one. We return any profits to you — our members — in the form of capital credits.
• More than $95.6 million has been returned to members since First Electric began the practice in the 1940s. • Members who are eligible will receive a refund in December. If your refund is less than $30, it will be shown on your bill. If your refund is greater than $30, you will receive a check in the mail.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CAPITAL CREDITS
Overhead Lines Are Scheduled For Maintenance In Your Area
First Electric works hard to maintain its right-of-way near overhead lines to provide safe and reliable electrical service for our members. Trees are one of the major causes of power outages in areas with overhead utility lines. When trees contact live wires, they may become conductors of electricity and cause power outages or create dangerous situations for anyone coming in contact with them. The overhead utility lines are scheduled for maintenance in your area. This work is necessary to provide the level of service we strive to offer our members. A licensed rightof-way contractor will be contacting you and/or leaving a door hanger prior to work starting in your area. VIEW OUR VEGETATION MAINTENANCE MAP
Paperless Billing
Sign up for Paperless Billing and reduce your monthly paper usage — and mailbox clutter — by reviewing and paying your monthly electric bill online. It's free, convenient and secure!
Win an AMAZON ECHO PLUS! - Sign up for Paperless Billing by Earth Day, April 22 to be entered into a drawing to win a Amazon Echo Plus with Philips LED bulb that works with Alexa.
SIGN UP FOR PAPERLESS BILLING
SmartHub
Pay your electric bill, monitor energy usage and report an outage through SmartHub. Download the free SmartHub app for your phone or tablet or access the online version on our website.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SMARTHUB
Operation Round-Up: Help Us Give To Your Community
When you sign up for Operation Round-Up, First Electric will round up your electric bill to the next highest dollar each month. The money contributed goes into a trust fund for a variety of worthy non-profit causes including food pantries, youth groups, animal shelters, scholarships and more!
• More than $935,000 has been donated to worthwhile community projects and scholarships sine 1998. • Just $6 per year is an average donation amount.
SIGN UP FOR OPERATION ROUND-UP