2020 February North Arkansas Electric Cooperative The Messenger

FEBRUARY 2020

THE MESSENGER A Publication for North Arkansas Electric Cooperative Members

First and foremost, make sure your attic insulation is adequate. NAEC recommends R-38.

NAEC seeks Youth Tour participants North Arkansas Electric Cooperative is accepting applications for the 2020 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. NAEC will send up to five high school juniors on the all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., June 19-25.

The application is available at www.naeci.com/ youth-tour and at NAEC offices. The co-op must receive completed applications by March 13. Please call 870-895-6210 with any questions.

Scholarship applications available The member-funded Operation Round Up® program awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to local graduating high school seniors each year.

The co-op is accepting applications for the 2020-2021 scholarship program. The application may be downloaded at www.naeci.com/operation -round-up-scholarship or found in the counselor’s office. Applicants must mail or deliver the typed appliSee SCHOLARSHIP on back.

For more information, call 870-895-3221.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP OF THE MONTH Are you using your fireplace efficiently? Remember to turn down the thermostat when burning a fire, and close the damper when a fire is not burning.

— energy.gov

Note potential electrical hazards this winter Unsurprisingly, winter months bring increased potential for fire risks and electrical safety hazards. This makes sense because during the coldest months, members often use additional electrical devices and appliances, such as space heaters, electric blankets and portable generators.

The National Fire Protection Association estimates that 47,700 home fires occur each year in the United States due to electrical failure or malfunction. These fires result in 418 deaths, 1,570 injuries and $1.4 billion in property damage annually. This winter, safeguard your loved ones and your home with these electrical safety tips from the Electrical Safety Foundation International.

space heaters take a toll on your electric bills. If you’re using them throughout your home, it may be time to upgrade your home heating system.

1. Don’t overload outlets.

4. Use portable generators safely.

Overloaded outlets are a major cause of residential fires.

Avoid using extension cords or multi-outlet converters for appliance connections — they should be plugged directly into a wall outlet. If you’re relying heavily on extension cords in general, you may need additional outlets to address your needs. Contact a qualified electrician to inspect your home and add new outlets.

2. Never leave space heaters unattended.

If you’re using a space heater, turn it off before leaving the room. Make sure heaters are placed at least three feet away from flammable items. It also should be noted that

3. Inspect heating pads and electric blankets.

These items cause nearly 500 fires every year. Electric blankets that are more than 10 years old create additional risks for a fire hazard. Inspect your electric blankets and heating pads. Look for dark, charred or frayed spots, and make sure the electric cord is not damaged. Do not place any items on top of a heating pad or electric blanket, and never fold them when in use.

Unfortunately, winter storms can cause prolonged power outages, which means many members will use portable generators to power their homes. Always read the manufacturer’s instructions on its safe operation. Never connect a standby generator into your home’s electrical system. For portable generators, plug appliances directly into the outlet provided on the generator. Start the generator first, before you plug in appliances. Run it in a well-ventilated area outside your home. The carbon monoxide it generates is deadly, so keep it away from your garage, doors, windows and vents.

—Abby Berry/NRECA

— SCHOLARSHIP continued from front cation to NAEC by April 13. They must include a high school transcript and three letters of recommendation.

To be eligible for the scholarship program, high school seniors must graduate at the end of the 2020 school year, and their parents or guardians must be NAEC members.

Applicants also must have a high school grade point

average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale through the first semester of their senior year. The scholarship must be used to attend an accredited institute of higher learning on a full-time basis.

For more information, please call 870-895-6210 or email tmoss@naeci.com.

DAILY HIGHS & LOWS — DECEMBER 2019 Average Daily High: 53.54° compared to 50.75° in 2018

TEMPERATURE

Average Daily Low: 30.02° compared to 30.14° in 2018 Total Rainfall Amount: 1.12” compared to 4.16” in 2018 Warmest Day: Dec. 25, 70.1° at 2 p.m.

Coolest Day: Dec. 19, 18.3° at 6:30 a.m.

DAYS CONTACT NAEC 870-895-3221 info@naeci.com naeci.com

IMAGES: MIKE BEAM; NRECA; ISTOCK/LAWRENCE BLANKENSHIP

RIGHT-OF-WAY Whiteville, Gassville and Wildcat Shoals areas of Baxter County

ON THE FRONT Keith Guffey, NEXT outside plant technician, connects fiber optic cable to a Horseshoe Bend business.