THE MESSENGER
A Publication for North Arkansas Electric Cooperative Members
Juniors can apply for Youth Tour
Each summer, a select group of Arkansas high school juniors trades their textbooks for a front-row seat to history. North Arkansas Electric Cooperative is looking for outstanding students to join the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Youth Tour, an all-expenses-paid, week-long leadership experience in our nation’s capital.
From June 13-19, delegates will join more than 1,800 students from across America for a life-changing journey. This isn’t just a sightseeing trip; it is an opportunity for young leaders to discover their voices, develop leadership skills and begin shaping their legacies.
• Meet your leaders: Tour the U.S. Capitol and engage with Arkansas’ Congressional delegation.
• Explore world-class museums: Visit the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
• Walk through history: Pay respects at Arlington National Cemetery and visit historic sites, such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the Lincoln Memorial.
• Build lasting bonds: Develop lifelong friendships with peers from across the state and the country.
Beyond the experiences in D.C., students selected for the program will have the chance to earn a $5,000 scholarship.
Apply today to make your mark! The application is available at naeci.com/ youth-tour. Call (870) 895-6210 or email info@naeci.com with questions. The deadline is March 6.
Scholarship applications due April 1
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 2025, 13 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 2026-2027 scholarship program. The application is available at naeci.com or through high school counselors’ offices.
Applicants must submit the application, transcript and two letters of recommendation by April 1.
To be eligible for the scholarship, high school seniors must graduate at the end of the 2026 school year, and their parents or legal guardians must be NAEC members. Applicants must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale through the first semester of senior year. The scholarship must be used to attend an accredited institute of higher learning on a full-time basis.
For more information, please contact Tori Moss, NAEC marketing and communications director, at tmoss@naeci.com or (870) 8956210.
Pennies in short supply; use of exact change helpful
NAEC requests that our members who pay in cash at our offices begin using exact change when able.
Like many others, the co-op’s banking institution is in short supply of pennies as the United States Mint has suspended penny production.
If a member service representative does not have the needed pennies when giving you change, the cents will be credited to your account. For example, if your change is $5.54, then the representative will give you $5.50 in cash
and credit your account $0.04. You will see the credit on your online account and on your next statement.
To avoid dealing with pennies (and office visits), you might consider enrolling in automatic bank draft. The free service electronically transfers your electric account balance from your bank account to the cooperative’s bank account each month on the due date. Call NAEC at (870) 895-3221 or visit an NAEC office during regular business hours to enroll.
Youth Tour delegates gather in front of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during the 2025 trip.
Why is the Demand for Electricity Rising?
Demand for electricity in the U.S. is booming. Recent data shows that power consumption nationwide is set to increase by at least 38 gigawatts (enough to power more than 30 million homes) between now and 2028. Meeting this new demand will require a combination of new power plants, grid upgrades and energy storage technology advancements. Here are the key factors that are driving increased demand.
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Increased Electrification: Electric vehicle adoption, electrification of home heating and industrial electrification are increasing overall U.S. energy consumption.
Data Centers: Driven by explosions in AI, cryptocurrency and cloud computing, total U.S. data center load is projected to increase by 65% by 2050. Economic Growth: Residential power consumption is expected to increase by 14% to 22% through 2050 due to increases in population and steady economic growth.
Manufacturing Growth/Onshoring: New, expanding and “onshored/reshored” manufacturing capacity driven by federal incentives is expected to increase industrial demand by 13,000 GWh per year.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP OF THE MONTH
Mid-winter is a great time to ensure you’re making the most of your home heating system. Replace or clean filters to keep your furnace or heat pump running efficiently. Listen for strange noises and check for uneven heating — these signs indicate that the system may need servicing. Ensure vents and radiators aren’t blocked by furniture or rugs as proper airflow helps your system work less and saves energy. A little maintenance along the way can prevent costly repairs and keep your home cozy through winter.
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