As July rolls in with extended daylight and rising temperatures, it also brings the increased potential for severe weather. Summer storms can arrive quickly and hit hard, sometimes causing significant damage to essential electric equipment.
North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) is prepared to respond swiftly to outages and restore power safely, but it is also important for homeowners to understand which parts of the electric system are their responsibility and which are maintained by the cooperative. Understanding these key differences can help speed up repairs and ensure everyone stays safe.
NAEC is responsible for maintaining and repairing the equipment and lines to your home, including utility poles, distribution power lines, electric meters, underground service lines as well as overhead and padmount transformers.
Members are responsible for the equipment located between the electric meter and your home or business, including the service panel. Members are also responsible for the weatherhead and service mast. (Please note: If your meter is on an NAEC pole, you are responsible for that meter loop and service line going into the home.)
If any equipment that you (the homeowner) are responsible for is damaged, please call a licensed electrician to conduct the repairs. A professional has the experience and know-how to assess and manage these types of repairs safely.
When severe weather damages electrical equipment, it’s important to note that any necessary repairs to the homeowner’s equipment must be completed before our crews restore power to your home or business. By understanding the equipment you are responsible for, the repair and restoration process will be smoother and faster.
Regular trimming is essential to ensure reliable electric service and minimize damage from severe weather. We regularly
trim trees throughout our service territory to improve service reliability. If you spot a tree limb that is obstructing a power line, please report it by calling (870) 895-3221 or emailing info@naeci.com. NAEC is responsible for maintaining all electric lines with the exception of any service line passed the meter; we recommend members use a licensed professional tree-trimming service for that maintenance.
By working together to understand the essential equipment that powers daily life, we can all be better prepared to start the repair and restoration process if severe weather impacts our community.
Who Owns What?
Electric Co-op Owned Equipment vs Member-Owned Equipment
This graphic depicts equipment owned by the co-op (in gold) and the member (in blue). If a storm damages any equipment owned by the co-op, we are responsible for repairs. If a storm damages any member-owned equipment, the member is responsible for repairs. Members should hire a licensed electrician when making any repairs to member-owned equipment.
Scholarship applications due April 1
program awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to local graduating high school seniors each year. In 2024, 15 students were awarded $1,000 scholarships, and three students were
NAEC is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 scholarship program. The application is
include a transcript and two letters of recommendation — with at least one from a nonschool
To be eligible for the scholarship, high school seniors must graduate at the end of the 2025 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, NAEC marketing and commu-
month. Call (870) 895-3221 to join today!
NEXT, Powered by NAEC personnel present Cotter School District personnel with a check for $1,000. Each of the 12 school districts within NEXT's service area received $1,000 in May.
NEXT donates $12,000 to area schools
Auto bank draft: Members' easiest payment option
NEXT, Powered by NAEC launched an initiative to help local students and families by giving a total of $12,000 to the 12 school districts within the organization’s service area. Each district received $1,000 to support students’ core needs.
School district administrators will direct the funding according to their specific needs and to support one of the following programs:
• Covering outstanding student meal balances, ensuring every student has access to nutritious meals.
• Providing food for students to take home over weekends and breaks through backpack programs, helping to ease hunger among children.
Automatic bank draft is the most convenient payment method NAEC offers. Enrolling in this free service ensures the bill is paid on time each month. It also eliminates the cost of a stamp or time spent in the drivethrough lane.
• Purchasing essential school supplies, reducing financial burdens on families.
Up-to-date contact info important
“We believe every student deserves access to quality education and resources,” said Cortney Varner, NEXT’s marketing and business development director. “NEXT’s donations aim to make a positive impact on our community’s students and support their academic success.”
School districts receiving funding include: Calico Rock, Cave City, Cotter, Highland, Hillcrest, Izard County Consolidated, Mammoth Spring, Melbourne, Mountain Home, Norfork, Salem and Viola.
Automatic bank draft is an electronic transfer from your checking or savings account to NAEC’s each month. On or about the 14th of every month, the amount of the bill is deducted from your account.
To enroll your account(s) in auto bank draft, call (870) 895-3221 or visit an NAEC office during regular business hours.
NEXT, Powered by NAEC is a wholly owned subsidiary of North Arkansas Electric Cooperative and provides high-speed, fiber-optic internet and phone services to more than 21,500 subscribers and counting. Offices are located in Salem, Mountain Home and Ash Flat. For more information, visit mynextfiber.com or call (870) 895-3221.
Sending an automated call when your home is going to be part of a planned outage or mailing a capital credits check are only two of the many reasons why NAEC might need to contact you. It's important to keep a current mailing address and at least one phone number and email on file. To update or check your contact information, call (870) 895-3221, visit an NAEC office or submit a form available at naeci.com/contact-naec.
school juniors have until March 5 to submit an application for Youth Tour, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia June 14-20. Download the application at naeci.com.
ENERGY SCAMS TIPS TO AVOID
Always be cautious of unsolicited calls (or inperson visits) to your home from companies claiming to conduct energy audits. These are typically telemarketing firms that claim to be a third-party company or pose as a representative from your electric utility to gain access to homes and sell services with the promise of government rebates. North Arkansas Electric Cooperative personnel can conduct energy audits, but they are scheduled at a member's request.
Source: Better Business Bureau
LIHEAP helps with electric bills
The federal government’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides help for qualifying members with their energy costs during the summer. LIHEAP is administered by community action agencies. In NAEC’s service area, those are Northcentral Arkansas Development Council and Ozark Opportunities.
Summer assistance should be available in July. We encourage members needing assistance to reach out to the agency serving their county for more information.
Northcentral Arkansas Development Council serves residents in Fulton, Izard, Sharp and Stone counties. Ozark Opportunities serves residents in Baxter and Marion counties. The amount of help available varies based on a person’s income, number of people in the home and other factors.
Northcentral Arkansas Development Council
nadcinc.org
Fulton County — (870) 895-3628
Izard County — (870) 368-4329
Sharp County — (870) 994-7353
Stone County — (870) 269-5427
Ozark Opportunities
ozarkopp.org
Baxter County — (870) 425-5118
Marion County — (870) 425-5118
Mammoth Spring School District student Joseph Smith tries on some of the personal protective equipment NAEC line personnel Randy Smith, right, and Lance Neal use on the job. The two gave a bucket truck demo and shared electric safety information with children attending Mammoth Spring's summer programming.
