OCTOBER 2021
THE MESSENGER A Publication for North Arkansas Electric Cooperative Members
Help after Hurricane Ida
From left, NAEC linemen Shane Goodson, Briar King, Preston Gurley and Grant Hyslip leave for South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association in Houma on Sept. 1. They helped restore outages caused by Hurricane Ida for two weeks. Ninety percent of SLECA’s 19,000 members originally were without electric service after the hurricane made landfall. The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas dispatched a total of 183 line workers and 194 trucks along with construction and right-of-way equipment.
Apprentice lineman Preston Gurley helps South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association restore electricity to members affected by Hurricane Ida.
Qualifying members can finance improvements North Arkansas Electric Cooperative’s Energy Efficiency & Conservation Loan Program allows members to borrow money at low interest to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of their homes. Most NAEC members take out an EECLP loan when they need to replace or upgrade to an all-electric heat pump, but many also borrow money to add insulation and/or make other energy-efficiency improvements. The interest rate for these fixed-rate EECLP loans now is 1.5 percent; however, this rate is subject to change. All loans require an application process, which does include a credit check. Also, board approval is required for loans exceeding $20,000. Below are the types of loans available: • Air-source Heat Pumps — Loans require a SEER rating of at least 14 and an HSPF of 8.2.
• Geothermal Heat Pumps • Weatherization — Weatherization loans can apply toward Energy Star® windows and doors, insulation (ceiling, floor or wall) and electric water heaters with efficiency of 91 percent or greater. • Energy Efficient Lighting — Energy efficient lighting loans will cover LED installations Members can have more than one loan and can combine weatherization measures with a heat-pump loan. Please note: new construction is not eligible for this program, and heat pumps must be all electric. The application is at www.naeci.com/loans. A print application also is available. NAEC has energy advisers on staff who can provide guidance on what energy efficiency improvements would be most beneficial. Call 870-895-3221 for assistance.
PASSWORD TIPS A strong password can make all the difference in protecting your personal information. Follow these tips for stronger passwords.
DO:
DON’T:
● Change the manufacturer’s Wi-Fi password on your router. ● Use two-factor authentication. ● Use unique phrases, such as lyrics to your favorite song, to remember passwords.
● Don’t use common words or numbers, such as “password” or “1234.” ● Don’t use personal details, such as your date of birth, in a password. ● Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart
ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP OF THE MONTH Old, uninsulated and improperly installed exterior doors can waste energy and money. Shut the door on wasted energy by weather stripping and sealing all exterior doors. If you have an old exterior door, then consider replacing it with a newer, energy efficient model. — energy.gov
SAFETY FIRST — NAEC’s lobbies are closed to help limit spread of coronavirus. Members may use office drop boxes and drivethroughs, log in to the app or website or call 870-8953221 to make payments.
DAILY HIGHS & LOWS — AUGUST 2021 Average Daily High: 89.77° compared to 88.05° in 2020
TEMPERATURE
Average Daily Low: 68.47° compared to 65.26° in 2020 Total Rainfall Amount: 3.59” compared to 0.12” in 2020 Warmest Day: Aug. 12, 98.7° at 4 p.m. Coolest Day: Aug. 4, 60.9° at 6 a.m.
DAYS
CONTACT NAEC 870-895-3221 info@naeci.com naeci.com
RIGHT-OF-WAY Wirth area of Sharp County
IMAGES: TORI MOSS; GRANT HYSLIP; BILLY SMART; NRECA; OTTO/ADOBE STOCK
ON THE FRONT General Foreman Shannon Bassham removes a limb that got caught on the line while contractors were trimming the right-of-way.