north arkansas electric cooperative
Powering UP When electricity goes out, most of us expect power will be restored within a few hours. But when a major storm causes widespread damage, longer outages may result. Co-op line crews work long, hard hours to restore service safely to the greatest number of consumers in the shortest time possible.
Here’s what’s going on if you find yourself in the dark. 1
1
2
High-Voltage Transmission Lines
Transmission towers and cables that supply power to transmission substations (and thousands of members) rarely fail. But when damaged, these facilities must be repaired before other parts of the system can operate. 2
Distribution Substation
Each substation serves hundreds or thousands of consumers. When a major outage occurs, line crews inspect substations to determine if problems stem from transmission lines feeding into the substation, the substation itself, or if problems exist down the line.
3
Main Distribution Lines If the problem cannot be isolated at a distribution substation, distribution lines are checked. These lines carry power to large groups of consumers in communities or housing developments. 3
4
Tap Lines If local outages persist, supply lines, called tap lines, are inspected. These lines deliver power to transformers, either mounted on poles or placed on pads for underground service, outside businesses, schools, and homes. 4
5
Individual Homes If your home remains without power, the service line between a transformer and your residence may need to be repaired. Always call to report an outage to help line crews isolate local issues. 5
22
JANUARY 2021
NORTH ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Up-to-date contact info helps NAEC serve you
The NAEC Mobile App allows members to pay their bill, report an outage and view their usage from their smart phone or tablet.
Prepare for emergencies by gathering essentials
my co-op
North Arkansas Electric Cooperative asks that members let us know if their contact information has changed. This includes home or cell phone numbers, emails and mailing addresses. Accurate information allows us to serve you better in several ways. Having the correct phone number or numbers on file can speed up outage reporting using our automated system. It also can help ensure any mail regarding your service or capital credits is sent to the correct address. You can update your contact information by calling 870-895-3221 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays to speak with a member service representative. You also can complete the online form at www.naeci.com/contact.
Pay NAEC bill, report power outage with app Members can use the NAEC Mobile App to pay their bill, report a power outage and view their electric usage. The free app is available through both iTunes and the Google Play Store. The log-in information is the same as the NAEC Member Account Portal at www.naeci.com. To use the app or portal for the first time, members first must create a user ID and password. 1. Click on the “Account Login” button in the top right of www.naeci.com. 2. Click on the “Login” link on the right or any selection in the drop-down menu. 3. Click the “New User” link and fill in the requested information. The email, last four of Social Security number and phone you provide must match those on file. If you have trouble, please call 870-895-3221. More co-op news on page 26 NORTH ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
23
north arkansas electric cooperative
Qualifying members may receive help paying electric bills through LIHEAP The federal government’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides help for qualifying members with their energy costs during the summer and winter months. LIHEAP is administered by community action agencies. In NAEC’s service area, those are Ozark Opportunities and Northcentral Arkansas Development Council. Winter assistance is expected to be available some time in January, and we encourage members to contact the agency serving their county for more information. Ozark Opportunities serves residents in Baxter and Marion counties. Northcentral Arkansas Development Council serves residents in Fulton, Izard, Sharp and Stone counties. The amount of help available varies based on a member’s income, number of people in the household and other factors. NAEC tries to work with members who are experiencing hardships. Members with questions or concerns about their account may reach an NAEC member service representative by emailing info@naeci.com or calling 870-895-3221 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. As a reminder, the co-op will not disconnect anyone for nonpayment while the Arkansas Public Service Commission moratorium is in place. However, the suspension is not a bill waiver. We encourage members to pay at least some if able to avoid having such a large balance when disconnection procedures resume.
Northcentral Arkansas Development Council
www.nadcinc.org Fulton County 870-895-3628 Izard County 870-368-4329 Sharp County 870-994-7353 Stone County 870-269-4381 Ozark Opportunities
www.ozarkopp.org Baxter County 870-425-5118 Marion County 870-449-6250
Internet | Television | Phone Proudly built for NAEC members www.mynextfiber.com 26 22
JANUARY 2021
NORTH ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE