North Arkansas Electric Cooperative was incorporated in 1939 and just one year later, on June 6th of 1940, energized its first line. As an electric cooperative, NAEC is a private independent electric utility incorporated under the laws of Arkansas.

Through rain and wind and snow and ice…North Arkansas Electric Cooperative strives to keep the power on for every home and business in our service area. But sometimes unexpected conditions will cause our members to temporarily lose power. As a North Arkansas member, you are the most important part of our business and we strive to deliver consistent, uninterrupted service 365 days a year. When storms or other circumstances cause an outage, we take immediate action to restore service. Although we work as quickly as possible to get the power back on, there are some steps you can take before, during and after an outage to make it easier to cope.

How You Can Help During an Outage

CONFIRM THE OUTAGE: First check lights and appliances in other rooms. If you still have power in some areas, most likely a fuse or a circuit breaker in your house has blown. If all lights are off, check to see if neighbor’s lights are also off. This will help us determine how widespread the outage is.

NAEC Outage Map:
http://www.outageviewer.com/

During an outage you can help the cooperative by providing several things to the dispatcher. You can help assess the damage quicker and restore power sooner if you have your account number ready. The account number can tell the dispatcher exactly where the outage is. Sometimes a member may have more than one account listed under the same name, so knowing the account number is very helpful.If you do not know the account number, then give the name that the account is under in the exact way if appears on the bill. You can also give the phone number of the outage location. However, if your phone number has changed, and you have not updated your number, it will be of little use.

Always be sure to alert NAEC when your phone number or mailing address changes.

We want to remind you that during an outage you may be directed to our automated outage answering service. You will be directed to the system only if all dispatchers are busy answering outage calls.

CALL North Arkansas: Call 870-895-3221 to report the outage.

Be prepared to leave a message on our voicemail system PORCHE (Power Outage Response Call Handling Equipment) where your information will be fed immediately into an outage analysis computer system. Dispatchers will use this information and direct crews to the source of the problem.

When the Power Comes Back On . . .

Give the electrical system a chance to stabilize by gradually reconnecting the appliances you previously disconnected. When the power first comes back on, turn on only the most essential appliances and wait a few minutes before reconnecting others.

Before switching back on your heating unit, check the outdoor unit to assure that the fan and outdoor heat exchanger are free from ice and snow.

Check food supplies in refrigerator/freezer for signs of spoilage. Don’t take chances with food you are not sure about. When in doubt, throw it out.

What Can You Do To Be Prepared

Weather in the Ozarks is full of surprises. We are definitely at Mother Nature’s mercy when it comes to ice, snow, thunderstorms and tornadoes. When storms happen, your cooperative will respond immediately to repair damage and restore power. Usually it doesn’t take long to get the power back on, but severe storms can cause widespread damage, and some repairs may take longer.

LIGHT: Always have alternate sources of light on hand. It could be a flashlight with extra batteries, candles, kerosene or oil lamps. Keep your alternate light source in an established place when it can be found easily in an outage situation.

INFORMATION: Have a battery-powered radio available. The radio will bring you weather reports, local news bulletins and other important emergency information. During a widespread outage, North Arkansas will contact local radio stations about restoration efforts.

FOOD: Stock emergency food and related items along with a manual can opener. Keep your refrigerator/freezer doors closed as much as possible to reduce the chance of food spoilage.

PROTECT YOUR APPLIANCES: Turn off all large appliances that come on automatically and disconnect sensitive equipment such as VCR’s, computers and TV’s to avoid damage from lightning or a power surge. If all of these appliances come back on at once, they might overload your homes electric circuits. Leave a single lamp turned on to let you know when your electric service has been restored.

PLAY IT SAFE: Never touch downed power lines or anything contacting power lines. Although you may see lines that are down, they could still be energized. Never attempt to move trees from power lines. Let qualified servicemen from North Arkansas handle the clearing and repair work.

Recommended Power Outage Emergency Supply Kit

1.Assemble an emergency kit. Have these items on hand and make sure they can last for at least 72 hours: a flashlight; candles and matches; batteries; a portable battery-powered radio; at least 1 gallon of water per person per day; non-perishable foods such as canned goods and granola bars; a manual can opener; an extra set of clothes; durable shoes; blankets; items to help pass the time, such as a deck of cards; a first aid kit that includes prescription drugs as needed; a whistle; and supplies such as duct tape and plastic so you can build a “shelter in place” if necessary. You can make smaller versions of this kit for your car or office and stock it with practical items for either setting.
2.Take special steps if you have special needs. Do you rely on life-support equipment or other power-dependent equipment to maintain your health? If so, register with your utility so your home will be treated as a top priority in the event of a power outage. You also should put a plan in place, possibly involving an emergency standby generator for your home or an arrangement to stay at a health-care facility that has backup power. If you personally don’t have special needs but can think of someone in your area who might, offer your assistance. Think about your elderly, disabled or non-English-speaking neighbors.
3.Keep your refrigerated food safe. If the power goes out, try not to open your refrigerator or freezer doors so you don’t lose cold air unnecessarily. The contents of a full fridge should keep for about six hours; the contents of a full freezer should last for as long as two days. Don’t taste foods to see whether they’re OK. Instead, follow these rules: Throw away any food items that become warmer than 41 degrees. And if you’re in doubt about a food item, throw it out.
4.Avoid shock and electrocution. Never do any of these things: operate a generator in rainy or wet conditions; touch a generator with wet hands; use electrical appliances that have gotten wet; touch exposed cables or electrical wires in your home; get near or touch downed or sagging power lines outside; or engage in an extremely dangerous practice known as “backfeeding,” which involves connecting a generator to your home’s wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet without the use of an appropriate power transfer switch.

Generator Safety
http://www.naeci.com/generator-safety

Offices

Ash Flat, Arkansas
824 Highway #56
Ash Flat, AR 72513
(870) 994-2191

Mountain Home, Arkansas
1520 Highway 62/412 East
Mountain Home, AR 72653
(870) 425-2141

Salem, Arkansas
225 South Main
Salem, AR 72576
(870) 895-3221

CALL North Arkansas: Call 870-895-3221 to report the outage.