2024 March NAEC The Messenger

THE MESSENGER

Avoid third-party delays, fees when paying bill

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) wants members to be aware of possible drawbacks to using third-party payment services. All payment methods offered by the co-op include no additional charge; however, many third-party payment services charge users a fee.

Scholarship applications due April 11

The North Arkansas Electric Cooperative member-funded Operation Round Up® program awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to local graduating high school seniors each year.

In 2023, 14 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 2024-2025 scholarship program. The application is at naeci.com and high school counselors’ offices.

Applicants must mail or deliver the typed application to NAEC by April 11. It must include a transcript and three letters of recommendation.

To be eligible for the scholarship, high school seniors must graduate at the end of the 2024 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 at (870) 895-6210 or tmoss@naeci.com.

Members can help fund future scholarships by allowing their bill to be "rounded up" to the next dollar each month. Call (870) 895-3221 to join today!

Also, some third-party payment services mail NAEC a check for the electric bill once users pay them rather than using a direct payment method. Depending on when the payment is processed, this could lead to the co-op not receiving payments by the due date of the 14th. Even electronic payments from banks, credit unions and other third-party payment services can take up to 24 hours to post to your NAEC account.

NAEC offers several payment options. The most convenient is automatic bank draft. Enrolling in this free service ensures the bill is paid on time each month and eliminates the cost of a stamp, a lobby visit or trip through the drive-thru lane.

Automatic bank draft is an electronic transfer from a member’s checking or savings account to NAEC’s each month. The member will continue to receive an itemized statement of the bill unless he or she prefers E-Bill notifications only. On the 10th of each month (or the next business day if the 10th falls on a weekend), the amount of the bill will be deducted from the account.

To enroll in automatic bank draft, please call NAEC at (870) 895-3221 during regular business hours, or sign up through the Member Account Portal at naeci.com or the NAEC app.

Other NAEC payment methods include:

• Member Account Portal — Visit naeci.com, click “Account Login,” and enter user ID and password. If using for the first time, please click “New User” to get started. The system accepts payments from a checking or savings account and a debit or credit card. Members without a user ID and password can pay online using the "Quick Pay" feature on the portal home page.

• NAEC Mobile App — Log in to an account. The app accepts payments from a checking or savings account and a debit or credit card. The account number/user ID and password are the same as those used to access the Member Account Portal.

• Phone — Call (870) 895-3221 to make a payment with a Member Services employee during business hours or any time through our automated system.

• NAEC offices — Visit the Ash Flat, Salem or Mountain Home offices. The Salem and Mountain Home offices, including the drive-thru, are open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. The Ash Flat office is open 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Night deposit boxes are available at each office; please do not put cash in the deposit boxes.

• Mail — Send check or money order in the return envelope enclosed with statement. Please do not mail cash.

Applications for Youth Tour due to NAEC by March 15

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, along with the state’s 16 other electric cooperatives, will provide an all-expenses-paid trip June 15-21 to Washington, D.C., for a selected group of high school students.

While on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, students will join 1,800 other teenagers from across the country in exploring worldclass museums, viewing national monuments, meeting elected officials, and much more.

Applicants must be high school juniors during the 2023-2024 school year with a parent or legal guardian who is an NAEC member. After reviewing applications, NAEC will select applicants for interviews to determine the winners.

The application is available at naeci.com and through high school counselors. NAEC must receive completed applications by March 15.

For more information about Youth Tour, please contact Tori Moss at (870) 895-6210 or tmoss@naeci.com.

POLE INSPECTIONS — NAEC has contracted with Osmose to inspect poles in areas of Baxter and Izard counties. Affected members were mailed a postcard. Osmose employees will drive trucks and wear apparel with the Osmose logo. Work should be done in April. These inspections allow NAEC to identify any damaged poles and either repair or replace them before they cause outages for members.

ENERGY

TIP OF THE MONTH

Lengthen the life of your clothes dryer with regular cleaning. Cleaning the lint filter after every load improves air circulation and safety. Check the lint trap opening to ensure it’s clean. Use a vacuum to remove any lint that’s fallen inside the opening. If you use dryer sheets, check the lint filter for residue buildup. Remove any residue with hot water and a nylon brush or toothbrush. Over time, dryer sheets can leave a film on the filter, which can affect the performance of the motor.

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