Ballots being mailed in May
North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) will conduct the election for one board of director position in Izard County and one in Sharp County.
Members will receive an envelope with the NAEC logo from Survey & Ballot Systems around the third week of May. The Minnesota company is handling the election and tabulation of votes on behalf of NAEC.
Along with the ballot, the envelope will include the 2025 Annual Report, candidate biographies and a prepaid postage return envelope to mail the ballot to Survey & Ballot Systems. Ballots cannot be given to NAEC. They must be mailed to Survey & Ballot Systems and received by June 21 to be considered valid.
Members on the nominating committee (TC Carter, Baxter County; Joe Dillard, system-at-large; James Elbert, Izard County; Randy Jones, Sharp County; Jeremy Stone, Fulton County; Carl Pitts, alternate; and Richard Hanson, alternate) met April 8. After consideration, they nominated Dennis Wiles of Izard County and Larry Goodwin of Sharp County. No petitions were received as of the newsletter’s publication deadline.
Election results will be published in The Messenger included in members’ statements and at naeci.com.
The 2026 Annual Meeting will entail only a business session at 10 a.m. June 23 at the co-op’s Salem headquarters. Members can watch the meeting live at naeci.com; a recording of the Annual Meeting also will be posted to the co-op’s website afterward.
Billing changes coming to NAEC members in August
Beginning in August, North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) members will experience a new bill design, a new online portal and app as well as a new due date as the co-op transitions billing software providers.
NAEC will share more information about these changes, as well as actions members will need to take, in the coming months through multiple channels, including Arkansas Living, The Messenger bill insert, direct mail pieces, lobby signage, naeci.com, NAEC’s Facebook page, email blasts and more.
In August, members will notice a more streamlined bill design that will include a new account number. In addition, the new bill will feature a graph with the past year’s monthly usage as well as the high and low temperatures for each month. This will help members understand their electricity consumption at a glance.
Members will access their account information through a new website and app called SmartHub. NAEC will provide members step-bystep instructions to access SmartHub for the first time using their new account number. Once logged in, members will be able to pay their bill, set up ac count alerts and reminders, sign up for an automated payment method, view detailed usage data and more.
Finally, the payment due date will change from the 14th of the month. (Details to come.) NAEC will extend the due date because the electric bills will be mailed later than in the past. This also will change when notices will be mailed to accounts that are subject to disconnection for nonpayment.
NAEC created a webpage — naeci.com/smarthub — where the latest information on the transition will be shared. Co-op employees also will be available to answer questions and address any concerns. Visit an NAEC office or call (870) 895-3221 during business hours or email info@naeci.com.
Electric shock drowning: A hidden danger
As temperatures rise outside and the cooling water beckons, know the signs of a hidden danger that could be lurking in lakes and other water sources: electric shock drowning (ESD).
ESD happens when electrical current seeps into water from a nearby electrical source, such as a boat or dock.
“As a child or adult swims in or near water that is electrified, his or her body can become a conductor for that electricity,” says Erin Hollinshead, executive director of Safe Electricity. “Once that electricity moves through the body, a person can become paralyzed and drown.”
Outdated wiring and a lack of proper safety equipment on boats and docks can cause electricity to escape from its source into the water.
“Knowing how to prevent ESD, what to do if you think you are approaching electrified water and how to properly help someone else can definitely save your life or someone else’s,” Hollinshead said.
How to keep yourself safe
• Do not swim around docks with electric service or boats that are plugged into shore-to-dock power.
• If you are swimming and feel tingling or shocks, swim away from the dock or any other electrical source. Yell to others to cut the power source.
REMEMBER & HONOR — NAEC
offices will be closed May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. A dispatcher will be on duty, and personnel will be on call in the event of an outage. Please report an outage using the NAEC app or by calling (870) 895-3221.
How to help others
• Do not jump in to try and save someone you suspect might be exposed to electricity in the water. Instead, throw them a float and turn off shore power by using a switch or other mechanism (usually found on the meter base) or by unplugging the shore power cords.
• Eliminate the source of power first, then call 911.
• Get the person to shore or on the dock by pulling the float rope. If you cannot find a pulse, perform CPR until emergency responders arrive.
How to prevent accidents
• If you own a boat that has an electrical system, make sure it is always in good working order and have it inspected annually by a qualified electrician. Consider purchasing a clamp meter to test for stray electricity in between inspections.
• Check ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) often to make sure they work. All docks should have GFCIs on the circuits that feed electricity to the docks. Faulty electricals in any water source could cause a problem. This includes hot tubs, pools and water parks.
Visit safeelectricity.org for more information.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP OF THE MONTH
Tiny cracks and worn weatherstripping allow conditioned air to escape and hot, humid air to seep indoors. This forces your air conditioner to work harder than necessary. Take a few minutes to check for drafts, replace weatherstripping and seal leaks.
—energy.gov
DAILY HIGHS & LOWS — MARCH 2026
Coolest
NAEC’s Tim Thurman, left, and Anthony Romine talk