2015 November Craighead Electric Cooperative Corporation Hot Lines

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November // December 2015

Giving thanks for the co-op family

Every November, Americans gather to give thanks for the blessings in their lives. It is also a time for us, the employees of your electric co-op, to give thanks for you, our members.

You see, without members, electric co-ops wouldn’t exist. Most of the nation’s electric co-ops were created in the late 1930s and early ’40s by groups of farmers and their neighbors who banded together to provide a common need. Today, the electric co-ops have roots that run deep in Arkansas and across our country.

At Craighead Electric, we work to ensure that your electric service is safe, affordable and reliable. We work to keep you informed, both with news concerning your co-op, as well as information that can help you save energy and money. We do that through Arkansas Living magazine, social media and other outlets. We also offer a variety of training for our employees to help them stay at the peak of their profession.

In addition, we work to go beyond what’s expected. The co-op business model always puts members first, from operating at the lowest possible costs to building relationships in the communities we serve. And every member has an equal voice in running the enterprise. Co-ops are small enough to listen and, because we are locally based, we are part of the communities we serve. Being a part of our communities helps us be more aware of the needs of our members.

Electric co-ops are doing more than just saving money for their members. They make being a member a truly unique experience. And each co-op employee is committed to meeting higher standards of member satisfaction.

The Craighead Electric offices will be closed November 26 & 27 for the Thanksgiving holiday. If you need to make a payment, please use one of the night drop boxes at any of our three locations or make your payment using our online services.

If you need to report an outage, please call our Outage Number: 1-888-771-7772.

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MORE SAVINGS, MORE TURKEY.

JONESBORO, ARKANSAS 72403

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Connections.coop 800.794.5012

870.932.8301

November // December 2015

Give Your Electric Bill a Break This Holiday Season

Caution Urged When Using Back-Up Generators

The holidays are often filled with the festive colors of red, gold, and green. You can fill your home with a little more “green” this holiday season by giving your electric bill a break.

One way to save energy is to shut off the decorations that use electricity when they are not needed. For example, turn off lights during the daylight, when you are away from home, and before you go to bed. Consider investing in a timer that will automatically turn your lights on and off at a set time.

Craighead Electric offers additional tips on how to • Make sure you know how to operate the generator safely. Unsafe operation can threaten you, your family, neighbors and even the linemen cut electrical costs during the holidays:

• Seal leaks between door frames and windows with

weather stripping or caulking. There may be gaps that contribute to the loss of heat in your home.

• Unplug appliances not in use. Many appliances still use energy even when off. Consider investing in power strips or smart strips.

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with LED or CFL bulbs.

These bulbs use less energy and last substantially longer.

• Take advantage of natural sunlight by opening curtains or blinds during the day to let the sun warm your home, but be sure to close the curtains at night to prevent the winter chill from coming in through the window glass.

If you plan on purchasing electronics as gifts for loved ones, be sure to look for the blue Energy Star label.

Energy Star products use less energy and can last longer than other products.

For more tips on energy efficiency, visit www.craigheadelectric.coop

The Craighead Electric offices will be closed December 24 & 25, 2015 for the Christmas holiday and January 1, 2016 for the New Year’s holiday.

If you need to make a payment, please use one of the night drop boxes at any of our three office locations or make your payment using our online services. If you need to report an outage, please call our Outage Number: 1-888-771-7772.

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working to restore power. Unsafe installation or operation may also result in a lawsuit and your insurance may not cover your liability.

• Temporary-use of generators should not be connected to the circuit breaker or fuse box and should not be plugged into a household outlet.

Portable generators should only be used with extension cords to power lights and small appliances.

• Permanently installed generators should be wired into your home by a qualified electrician, using a transfer switch that prevents potentially deadly back-feed.

• Generators should only be operated outside a home to prevent toxic and potentially deadly exhaust from entering a home. Keep them away from children and pets.

• When starting a generator, disconnect all appliances that might be connected to it. That will not only protect them but prevent a fuse from being blown on the generator.

• Connect appliances to your portable generator after it has been started.

Use only three-prong plugs that allow connections to be grounded.

• When refueling generators, allow the engine to cool in order to prevent a fire should the gas tank overflow.

• Be sure to use a heavy-duty extension cord rated for the wattage of the load being connected.

• When the generator is no longer needed, allow it to cool down before storing it.

For more tips visit www.craigheadelectric.coop.

JONESBORO, ARKANSAS 72403

800.794.5012

870.932.8301