2020 June NAECI Arkansas Living Center Pages

north arkansas electric cooperative edition

Bank draft most convenient payment option NAEC offers several payment methods other than visiting our office lobbies.

Automatic bank draft is the most convenient payment method. Enrolling in this free service ensures the bill is paid on time each month and eliminates the cost of a stamp or time spent in the drive-through lane.

Automatic bank draft would be an electronic transfer from your checking or savings account to NAEC’s each month. You would continue to receive an itemized statement of the bill. On or about the 10th of every month, the amount of the bill would be deducted from your account.

To enroll in automatic bank draft, please call 870-895-3221 or sign up through the Member Account Portal at www.naeci.com.

Other payment methods include: • Mail — Send a check in the return envelope included with the statement.

• Phone — Call NAEC at 870-895-3221 to make a payment with a Member Services employee during business hours or any time through our automated system. Reach the automated phone system by dialing 870-8953221 and entering extension 1952. Use either your account number or a phone number on file to access your account and pay by credit or debit card or e-check.

• Member Account Portal — Go to www. naeci.com and log in to your account. If log-

ging in for the first time, click “New User” on the log-in screen to create a user ID and password. The email, last four of the Social Security number and last four of the phone number you enter must match what NAEC has on file. If the information is not on file or is outdated, please call for a member service representative to add or update it.

• NAEC Mobile App — Log in to your account using the free app. Please note: You cannot create a user ID and password through the app at this time. You must complete the “New User” process on the portal at www.naeci.com the first time. (See above.)

• Drive-throughs — Visit the Salem or Mountain Home lanes 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

• Drop-boxes — Place a check with your account number(s) in the drop-box found at each of our three offices.

As a reminder, NAEC will not disconnect anyone for nonpayment while the governor’s state of emergency declaration is in place.

If you are struggling to pay your bill, a member service representative can provide information on the government’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Please call 870-895-3221 or email info@naeci.com. As the suspension is not a bill waiver, we encourage you to pay at least some if able. This will keep you from having such a large balance when disconnection procedures resume.

Crews will be on call in the event of an outage.

Please call 870-895-3221 or use the NAEC Mobile App to report an outage at any time.

22

JUNE 2020

NORTH ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

IMAGE: TOUCHSTONE ENERGY; NRECA

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY — NAEC’s offices will be closed July 3 for Independence Day.

Change the filter every month or two to maximize an HVAC system’s efficiency.

Lengthen HVAC system’s life by following these steps NAEC requests feedback via member survey

my co-op

Your heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system is essential to keeping your home comfortable during summer months. If it breaks down, it’s also the most expensive equipment to repair or replace. Luckily, there are steps you can take to lengthen its life.

• Change or clean filters. Dirty filters block airflow, which greatly can decrease the efficiency of your system. The Department of Energy recommends changing or cleaning filters every month or two during the cooling season. If your unit is in constant use or is subjected to dusty conditions or pet hair, consider checking filters more frequently.

• Clean the HVAC unit. Outdoor condenser coils can become clogged with pollen, dirt and small debris. Use a hose to spray the HVAC unit once each season to ensure maximum airflow. (Warning: Do not use a pressure washer to do this, as it can damage the equipment.)

• Clear space around the HVAC unit. Dryer vents, falling leaves and grass left behind from the lawnmower can create buildup. Remove any debris around the HVAC unit. If you have foliage near the unit, trim it back at least two feet around the condenser to increase airflow.

You also should have your HVAC system periodically inspected by a licensed professional. The frequency of inspections depends on the age of your unit, but the Department of Energy recommends scheduling tune-ups during the spring and fall. With a little maintenance, you can add years to your system’s lifespan.

NAEC’s energy advisers can offer guidance. Reach them by calling 870-895-3221 or emailing info@naeci.com.

NAEC appreciates feedback from our members and is conducting a survey this month.

The printed survey may be found on the front page of The Messenger included in the June statements.

The survey may be completed at www.naeci.com/ naec20 as well.

In appreciation for members’ feedback, NAEC will draw from completed surveys received by July 8, 2020, for 12 Visa gift cards.

More co-op news on page 26

NORTH ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

23

north arkansas electric cooperative edition

Keep workers safe by not attaching anything to poles

Internet | Television | Phone Proudly built for NAEC members www.mynextfiber.com 26 22

JUNE 2020

NORTH ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

IMAGE: BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Signs, basketball goals and other materials on utility poles are more than just an unpleasant community eyesore; they can be dangerous — even life threatening — to the professionals who maintain our vital lines of electricity, communication and other services.

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative urges everyone to help keep utility poles free of such objects.

The clamped safety boots used by line workers to climb poles are vulnerable to becoming snagged on staples and nails embedded in poles. Foreign objects also can tear utility workers’ protective clothing, which is the first line of protection from an electric shock. They also can injure workers despite the safety gear they wear to avoid contact with rough surfaces.

Posting items to poles can be a public safety hazard as well. The Objects on poles can not only cut line workers while they are climbing but also materials posted on the poles not only distract people as they drive, puncture their clothing and gear that but they also degrade the quality, effectiveness and stability of the protects them from electric shock. wood.

Under Arkansas law, posting a sign to a utility pole is unlawful and subject to a fine for each day the violation continues.

It is also just as important to avoid tampering with or disrupting the guy wires that surround poles. Please inform children not to play or swing on them, and maintain your distance when performing yard work. If you see the poles or guy wires are disrupted in some way, please call NAEC at 870-895-3221 immediately.