MAY 2026
THE MESSENGER A Publication for North Arkansas Electric Cooperative Members
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 account 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.
BANK DRAFTS WILL MOVE TO NEW SOFTWARE — Automatic bank draft is the most convenient payment method NAEC offers and is the only recurring payment method that will transition to NAEC’s new billing software in August. Credit and debit card numbers will not move to the new billing software, so recurring payments tied to existing credit and debit cards will not either. Members who enroll in bank draft now will experience a seamless transition in August. To enroll an account(s) in bank draft, call (870) 895-3221 or visit an NAEC office during regular business hours.