DECEMBER 2021
THE MESSENGER A Publication for North Arkansas Electric Cooperative Members
MESSAGE FROM CEO
Principle 3 Members’ Economic Participation
Cooperative difference As we have for decades, NAEC operates as a notfor-profit cooperative. That means you are not a customer. You are a member. You are an owner. Any margins we make are assigned to you and our other members based on the amount of electricity for which you were billed. Every fall, the NAEC board evaluates the co-op’s overall financial condition and decides the amount of capital we can refund. This year’s refund of $1.5 million marks the 34th consecutive year NAEC has returned margins. In our 82-year history, an astonishing $42 million has been refunded. Capital credits are just one of the differences that sets electric cooperatives apart from other utility business models. NAEC is proud of our financial accomplishments and ability to give money back to you, our member. NAEC’s directors, employees and I hope you and your family are well and you all have a merry Christmas!
This is a sample statement to show where a capital credit refund of less than $50 will appear. Refund amounts will vary.
Co-op refunding $1.5 million in capital credits to members in December North Arkansas Electric Cooperative will return $1,547,409 in capital credits to members in December. This marks the 34th consecutive year NAEC has refunded margins and brings the total returned to members to $42 million since the co-op’s founding in 1939.
What are capital credits? NAEC is owned by the members we serve. At the end of each year, the co-op subtracts, on a taxable basis, operating expenses from the amount of money earned through rates. The remaining balance is called taxable margins. The taxable margins left over at the end of the year are allocated, or assigned, to each member’s account based on the amount of electricity for which each was billed. Each member receives a capital credit certificate annually detailing how much of the previous year’s margins was allocated to his or her account. The capital is then retained by the co-op to use as operating capital for a period of time and then returned as financial conditions permit. Will I receive a refund? The retirement represents the remaining 19.37 percent of the margins assigned for 1997, 6.81 percent of the margins assigned for 1998 and 4.48 percent of the margins assigned for 2020. Only members who were billed for electricity during the years above will receive a refund in 2021. How are refunds given? Refunds will be distributed after Dec. 1. Members with a refund of less than $50 will receive a credit on their December statement. (See below.) Members with a refund of $50 or more will receive a check in the mail. Non-active members with a refund of more than $2 will receive a check as well. How do I get more information on my capital credits? Our lobbies remain closed to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. For assistance, call 870-895-3221 or email info@naeci.com. We are open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. (Please note: We’ll be closed Dec. 23-24 and Dec. 31.) NAEC operates as a member-owned not-for-profit cooperative. Refunding capital credits exemplifies the cooperative principle of members’ economic participation.
LIHEAP can aid qualifying members in paying electric bills in winter 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 (ozarkopp.org) and Northcentral Arkansas Development Council (nadcinc.org). Regular winter assistance should begin in December. Applications are accepted on a first come, first served basis, so NAEC encourages members needing assistance to reach out to the agency serving their county now 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 for regular assistance varies based on a member’s income, number of people in the household and other factors. Crisis assistance, when available, is a payment of up to $500 that depends on the amount of help a household presents as being necessary, according to the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment website. NAEC tries to work with members who are experiencing financial hardships. Members needing an extension may email info@naeci.com or call 870-895-3221. A member service representative can answer any questions or make an extension during business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP OF THE MONTH Heading out of town for the holiday season? Remember to unplug electronics that draw a phantom energy load. Gadgets such as TVs, phone chargers, gaming consoles and toothbrush chargers use energy when plugged into an outlet — even when they’re not in use. — NRECA
Small change with big impact If you would like to help fund scholarships to local high school graduates and donations to nonprofits, then please consider joining NAEC’s Operation Round Up® program. Members who join Operation Round Up agree to have their electric bill “rounded up” to the next even dollar amount each month. Enroll by completing the form at naeci.com/operation-round-up or calling 870-895-3221 during business hours. Some members support Operation Round Up by donating their capital credits refund. If you would like to donate your refund, then please endorse your check and mail it to NAEC at P.O. Box 1000; Salem, AR 72576. Donations of any size are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible.
DAILY HIGHS & LOWS — OCTOBER 2021 Average Daily High: 73.7° compared to 68.18° in 2020
TEMPERATURE
Average Daily Low: 51.47° compared to 44.42° in 2020 Total Rainfall Amount: 4.06” compared to 0.24” in 2020 Warmest Day: Oct. 9, 87.8° at 3 p.m.
DAYS
CONTACT NAEC
RIGHT-OF-WAY
870-895-3221 info@naeci.com naeci.com
Myron and Zion areas
IMAGES: TAMMY NEWTON, GARY BEAN; KARLEVANA/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
ON THE FRONT Tyler Ochoa, Member Services technician, shares information on how electricity is generated with Viola Elementary School fourth-graders Nov. 5.
Coolest Day: Oct. 17, 38.3° at 6 a.m.