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SmartHub portal,app launches September
North Arkansas Electric Cooperative members will experience billing changes in September!
To ensure the best possible experience for members, North Arkansas Electric Cooperative adjusted the timeline for our new billing system and SmartHub launch to Sept. 8. You will have a new account number, bill design, due date and portal/app called SmartHub to log in to your account (if you would like) beginning Sept. 8. As a reminder, if you have an email on file, we will email your new account number and links to the SmartHub portal and app the week of Sept. 8. The first statement you will receive in the new system will be processed around Oct. 9 for usage from Sept. 1-30. It will include your new account number. The due date will be Nov. 3, and we will continue with a due date of the third of each month.
NEW online portal and mobile app NEW bill design with new account numbers NEW billing due date Visit naeci.com/smarthub for more information.
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Recurring payment methods previously set up with a debit or credit card or with a bank account through the existing portal will not transfer. However, if your account was set up on automatic bank draft through our office, that will continue in the new system. Once you have created a SmartHub account, setting up an Auto Pay again is easy. You also can speak with a Member Services employee to set an Auto Pay up again after Sept. 8. We appreciate your patience as NAEC employees work with the software cooperative’s team for a smooth transition to the new system. Please email info@naeci.com or call (870) 8953221 during regular business hours if you have any questions or concerns.
Scholarship applications due April 1
Knowledge is power
The North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) member-funded Operation Round Up® 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 awarded $4,000 scholarships to be disbursed in $1,000 installments for up to four years. NAEC is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 scholarship program. The application is available at naeci.com or through high school counselors’ offices.
TORI MOSS
Applicants must mail or deliver the typed application to NAEC by April 1. They must include a transcript and two letters of recommendation — with at least one from a nonschool employee who is not a relative. 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 Woody, Chris Waltripinstitute (at left) and Leslielearning present a on a year. The scholarship must be NAEC’s used toJames attend an accredited ofBen higher high-voltage safety trailer demonstration to representatives thecommufull-time basis. For more information, please contact Tori Moss, NAEC marketing of and Calico Rock, Morriston, Norfork and Pineville fire departments in July. nications director, at (870) 895-6210 or tmoss@naeci.com. They shared electric safety information with the first responders, including how to respond to vehicletheir accidents involving power Members can help fund future scholarships by enrolling accounts in downed Operation lines. If you hit an electric pole, stay in the car to avoid possibly being Round Up. Volunteers allow their electric Call bills911, to and be "rounded the next dollar electrocuted. wait until aup" line to technician arrives andeach tells month. Call (870) 895-3221 toyou join it istoday! safe to leave the vehicle. The exception is if your car is on fire. In that case, jump clear of the vehicle without touching it and the ground at the same time. Then hop away with your feet together.
Auto bank draft: Members' easiest payment option
This is how you do it
TORI MOSS
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. 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.
HEADQUARTERS HEADQUARTERS S. Main 225 S.225 Main St., St., Salem Salem DISTRICT OFFICES DISTRICT OFFICES 824 Hwy 824 Hwy 56, 56, Ash Flat Ash Flat Hwy 62/412 1520 1520 Hwy 62/412 E., E., Mountain Home Mountain Home CONTACT CONTACT NAECNAEC (870) 895-3221 (870) 895-3221 info@naeci.com info@naeci.com PAY/VIEW PAY/VIEW BILL BILL naeci.com ▶ Account naeci.com ▶ Account LoginLogin REPORT OUTAGE REPORT OUTAGE (870) 895-3221 (870) 895-3221 335-4461 (844)(844) 335-4461 NAEC NAEC App App naeci.com ▶ Outage Viewer naeci.com ▶ Outage Viewer FOLLOW FOLLOW NAECNAEC Twitter.com/NorthARElectric Twitter.com/NorthARElectric Facebook.com/NorthARElectric Facebook.com/NorthARElectric
Up-to-date contact info important
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 To enroll your account(s) in auto number and email on file. To update or check bank draft, call (870) 895-3221 or your contact information, call (870) 895-3221, Lead line technicians Briar King, right, and Tim Thurman show Izard County Elementary School student Qhuincey visit an NAEC office during regular visit NAEC office or The submit a form available Briggs how to use a press and compression connector to secure twoan pieces of conductor. employees visited business at naeci.com/contact-naec. summer school hours. students and gave a bucket truck demo and safety talk at Violet Hill in July.
Highoffices schoolwill juniors NAEC’s have until March 5 be closed Sept. 7 to submit an in observance of application Labor Day. for Youth Tour, an all-expenses-paid A dispatcher will trip to Washington, be on duty, and D.C.,will and personnel be Philadelphia on call in the June Download event14-20. of an outage. the application Report an outage at naeci.com. to the NAEC app or (870) 895-3221.
MORE ON PAGE 26 NORTH NORTH ARKTRIC ANSAS ELECCOOPERATIVE TRIC COOPERATIVE Arkansas Living ARK ANSAS ELEC COOPERATIVE More co-opMORE news onCO-OP page 26PAGE CO-OP NEWSNEWS ON 26NORTH ARK ANSAS ELEC TRIC
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Breaking it Down Discover where your home uses energy BY MITCH ROSS While helping my daughter with a homework assignment, I could tell that, although she was capable of solving the problem, it seemed so overwhelming that she developed a mental block. She simply didn't know where to start. It was only after we broke the problem into smaller, more manageable pieces that she was able to work through it and find the solution. Understanding your home’s energy use can feel much the same way. When you receive your electric bill, you see two main things: how much electricity you used and how much it cost. What you don’t see is where that energy was used. Since homes consume electricity in many ways throughout the year, it can be difficult to know where to focus your efforts when trying to reduce energy consumption. The good news is that you can break this problem down into more manageable parts. By looking at your monthly usage history, you can generally break your home’s energy consumption into three basic categories: baseload, cooling and heating.
subtract that amount from each month’s total usage. During summer months, the additional consumption is largely attributable to air conditioning. During winter months, the increase is generally due to heating. Seeing your energy use broken down in this way can help identify where your greatest opportunities for savings exist. If your baseload is very high, typically over 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month, then looking for ways to reduce appliance or hot water usage should pay off. If baseload is low, and the summer and/or winter bills seem to be the problem, focus on air sealing, insulation, duct sealing or HVAC adjustments to see the biggest improvements. For energy-savings tips, visit arkansaslivingmagazine.com/story-category/smartenergy-tips/. Mitch Ross is the energy efficiency manager for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.
Baseload Baseload is the portion of your energy use that remains relatively consistent throughout the year and is not heavily influenced by outdoor temperatures. This includes water heating, refrigeration, lighting, appliances such as washers, dryers, dishwashers and ovens, as well as televisions, chargers, computers and other electronic devices. To estimate your baseload, identify the two months with the lowest electricity usage — typically during the spring or fall when neither air conditioning nor heating is used extensively. Approximately 90% of the energy consumed during those months can be considered your home’s baseload.
Cooling and heating
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The remaining energy use generally falls into two seasonal categories: cooling and heating. Once you’ve estimated your baseload, simply