SEPTEMBER 2024
THE MESSENGER A Publication for North Arkansas Electric Cooperative Members
NAEC tackling dead trees to prevent outages North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) personnel and contractors are eliminating the threat dead trees pose to the co-op’s more than 5,000 miles of lines. When dead trees in and near the right-of-way inevitably fall, they often take power lines and poles down, too. This not only poses a safety concern for people but also causes sometimes-lengthy outages for NAEC members while line personnel must repair the damage. “For the past year, the co-op has taken a more proactive, systematic, circuit-by-circuit approach to these dead trees,” said James Woody, vice president of operations. “The past few years, we've seen an increase in the number of dead trees, particularly ash trees, along our lines, and that has led to increased outages for our membership when storms or time eventually take them.” For the remainder of the year, NAEC employees and contractors will concentrate on the dead trees that are
along the power lines, “topping off ” dead trees inside of the right-of-way as well as dead trees outside of the rightof-way that will reach power lines when they fall. As is consistent with NAEC's policy, crews will leave the dead tree or tree sections on the property where they do not cause an access issue. NAEC members can help prevent future tree-related outages by considering the location before planting a new one. Guidelines include: • Do not plant shrubs or trees within 30 feet of the power lines. Any vegetation taller than 10 feet in that area will be trimmed or removed. • Plant medium trees that will be less than 40 feet tall when mature at least 30 feet away from lines. • Plant larger trees that will be more than 40 feet tall when mature at least 50 feet away from lines. • Dial 811 before digging, so utilities may be marked.
IMPACTS OF THE EPA’S POWER PLANT RULE The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) power plant rule threatens access to reliable electricity for millions of Americans. The EPA’s power plant rule will:
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Force the premature closure of many power plants that currently provide electricity 24/7. Mandate the deployment of unproven carbon capture and storage technology. Jeopardize the reliability of the grid at a time when America is already facing a surge in electricity demand. Heighten the risk of rolling power outages to relieve pressure on the electric grid. Increase costs for consumers as utilities are forced to pay for new power generation to comply with the EPA rule.
LEARN MORE AT AECC.COM/BALANCE-OF-POWER
ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP OF THE MONTH Now is the time to schedule annual maintenance for your home’s heating system. During fall months, HVAC technicians are typically less busy, making this an excellent time for maintenance and any necessary repairs before the winter months. A qualified technician can clean filters, check for leaks and ensure all system components are working efficiently to keep your home cozy and warm when the temperatures begin to drop. — energy.gov