NAECI Arkansas Living - February 2026 by Inside Information, Inc.

MEL COLEMAN CEO

The Power to Save a Life

Prepare to act when it matters most

February is American Heart Month. It’s a time to focus on heart health, and just as importantly, what happens when every second counts. Cardiac emergencies don’t wait for perfect conditions, and survival often depends on how quickly someone nearby is willing and prepared to act.

That’s why training matters.

At North Arkansas Electric, safety and preparedness are not optional. Our lineworkers are trained and certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED) use and first aid. They also regularly complete extensive poletop and bucket truck rescue training. Rescue training is required when a lineworker becomes unconscious or unresponsive while working and is unable to get down from a pole or bucket truck on their own. In these situations, fellow lineworkers must act quickly and skillfully to safely lower their co-worker to the ground so lifesaving care can begin.

These skills are essential in our line of work, where employees may be first on the scene in remote locations or emergency situations. But the value of this training goes far beyond the job — it’s about being ready to help coworkers, family members, neighbors or strangers when a life is on the line.

Cardiac arrest remains a leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming more than 436,000 lives each year. Brain damage can begin within four minutes, and survival chances drop rapidly without intervention. According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival by keeping blood and oxygen flowing until professional help arrives.

AEDs are another critical link in the chain of survival. These portable devices are designed to be used by

Practice makes prepared. Lineworkers undergo regular cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and pole-top rescue training, because safety is a top priority.

anyone, with clear voice and visual prompts that guide the user step by step. An AED will only deliver a shock if it’s needed — you can’t hurt someone by using one in an emergency. When CPR and AED use are combined, survival rates increase dramatically.

Steps you can take:

• Get trained in CPR, AED and first aid through the American Red Cross or American Heart Association.

• Encourage workplaces, schools and community spaces to make AEDs visible and accessible.

• Be ready to act — call 911, start CPR and use an AED if one is available.

At our cooperative, preparedness is part of our culture. We believe a trained community is a stronger, safer community. This American Heart Month, let’s turn awareness into action — because when it comes to saving a life, readiness makes all the difference.

Board selects Cunningham for open seat

Scholarship applications due April 1

program awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to local graduating high school seniors each year. In 2024, 15 students were awarded $1,000 scholarships, and three students were

NAEC is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 scholarship program. The application is

became a trailblazer as the first woman on the NAEC Board of Directors and spent the past two

include a transcript and two letters of recommendation — with at least one from a nonschool

To be eligible for the scholarship, high school seniors must graduate at the end of the 2025 school year, and their parents or legal guardians must be NAEC members. Applicants also 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 (870) 895-6210 or tmoss@naeci.com.

The federal government’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides help for qualifying members with their energy costs during the summer and winter months.

NAEC accepting Youth Tour applications

Members can help fund future scholarships by enrolling their accounts in Operation Round Up. Volunteers allow their electric bills to be "rounded up" to the next dollar each month. Call (870) 895-3221 to join today!

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, weeklong leadership experience in our nation’s capital.

Auto bank draft: Members' easiest payment option

LIHEAP is administered by community action agencies, not North Arkansas Electric Cooperative. In NAEC’s service area, those are Northcentral Arkansas Development Council and Ozark Opportunities. Northcentral Arkansas Development Council serves residents in Fulton, Izard, Sharp and Stone counties. Ozark Opportunities serves residents in Baxter and Marion counties. NAEC encourages members needing assistance to reach out to the agency serving their county for more information. (See sidebar below.)

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.

1520 Hwy 62/412 E., Mountain Home

CONTACT NAEC (870) 895-3221

info@naeci.com

PAY/VIEW BILL naeci.com ▶ Account Login

REPORT OUTAGE (870) 895-3221 (844) 335-4461

OUTAGE (870) 895-3221 (844) 335-4461

NAEC App naeci.com ▶ Outage Viewer

FOLLOW NAEC Twitter.com/NorthARElectric Facebook.com/NorthARElectric

• Explore world-class museums: Visit the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Automatic bank draft is the most convenient payment method NAEC offers. Enrolling in this free service ensures the bill is paid on time each month. It also eliminates the cost of a stamp or time spent in the drivethrough lane.

Winter assistance should be available in January. Applications are accepted by community action agencies on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funds are available.

• Walk through history: Pay respects at Arlington National Cemetery and visit historic sites, such as Mount Vernon and the Lincoln Memorial.

The amount of LIHEAP help available varies based on a person’s income, number of people living in the home, type of energy source and other factors. Businesses are excluded from receiving LIHEAP.

• Build lasting bonds: Develop lifelong friendships with peers from across the state and the country.

Northcentral Arkansas Development Council

nadcinc.org

Automatic bank draft is an electronic transfer from your checking or savings account to NAEC’s each month. On or about the 14th of every month, the amount of the bill is deducted from your account.

Ozark Opportunities

Beyond the experiences in D.C., students selected for the program will have the chance to earn a $5,000 scholarship.

Fulton County — (870) 895-3628

Izard County — (870) 368-4329

Sharp County — (870) 994-7353

ozarkopp.org

Baxter County — (870) 425-5118

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.

Stone County — (870) 269-5427

To enroll your account(s) in auto bank draft, call (870) 895-3221 or visit an NAEC office during regular business hours.

Marion County — (870) 425-5118

Sending an automated call when your home is going to be part of a planned outage or mailing a capital credits check are only two of the many reasons why NAEC might need to contact you. It's important to keep a current mailing address and at least one phone number and email on file. To update or check your contact information, call (870) 895-3221, visit an NAEC office or submit a form available at naeci.com/contact-naec.

Enroll in automatic bank draft by calling NAEC at (870) 895-3221. The free service ensures the electric bill is paid on time each month and eliminates the cost of a stamp or time spent visiting an NAEC office.

NAEC Twitter.com/NorthARElectric Facebook.com/NorthARElectric High school juniors have until March 5 to submit an application for Youth Tour, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia June 14-20. Download the application at naeci.com.

Youth Tour delegates gather in front ot the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during the June 2025 trip.

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 also 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 (870) 895-6210 or tmoss@naeci.com.

Using exact change helpful as pennies in short supply

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.

Enrolling in autodraft payments with your utility provider, such as NAEC, can help prevent certain types of utility bill scams. If a scammer contacts you with fake disconnection threats, you can rest easy knowing your bill is paid automatically through a pre-arranged, secure channel. Autodraft payments also eliminate the risk of exposing checks and personal banking info through the mail. You can enroll in NAEC’s auto bank draft at a co-op office or by calling (870) 895-3221.

Source: AARP