NAEC encourages winter weather preparedness

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative maintains a state of preparedness for winter precipitation and below-average periods of cold and encourages our members to do the same.

Information released Jan. 2 by the National Weather Service’s Little Rock office indicated the predicted threat of freezing rain and snow for NAEC’s territory Jan. 5 now was low; however, well below-average temperatures remain in the forecast through Jan. 10.

“NAEC prepares for significant weather events by keeping a healthy stock of poles, transformers and other equipment on hand and staged throughout our territory,” CEO Mel Coleman said. “During the past several years, we’ve also converted from single- to three-phase lines in several areas and upgraded equipment in several substations to better handle extreme temperatures.”

In a process known as mutual aid, NAEC can call on existing contractors and fellow electric cooperatives in Arkansas and surrounding states for additional line and right-of-way personnel in the event of widespread outages.

As a distribution cooperative, NAEC purchases electricity from Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC). AECC works closely with regional transmission organizations Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and Southwest Power Pool (SPP). MISO and SPP both manage generation and transmission grids across multi-state areas, including NAEC’s territory. They can mandate curtailments at individual utilities in the event the electricity supply fails to meet demand during periods of extreme cold or heat.

“NAEC has never been forced to curtail load temporarily to areas of our membership, but other co-ops in our state have in the past few years,” Coleman said. “The potential need for these curtailments is tied directly to the premature closure of always-on coal generation across the country throughout the past 15 years as well as the increased deployment of intermittently available generation, such as solar and wind, in lieu of 24/7 baseload generation sources, such as coal and natural gas.”

NAEC and its wholesale power provider AECC support a diverse mix of generation sources anchored by baseload generation of coal and natural gas to ensure members have access to reliable, affordable electricity.

MISO and SPP both reported normal grid conditions as of the morning of Jan. 2. Extreme cold temperatures in the forecast for much of the country in the coming days could change that.

NAEC recommends members maintain an emergency kit stocked with food, water, prescriptions, flashlights, battery-powered radio and extra batteries. Those who rely on electricity-dependent medical devices need to have a plan in place in case they experience an extended outage.

Here are additional ways to prepare for a power outage:

Stay warm – Plan to use a safe alternate heating source, such as a fireplace or wood-burning stove, during a power outage, but exercise caution. Never leave the heating source unattended. If using gasoline-, propane- or natural gas-burning devices to stay warm, never use them indoors. Remember that fuel- and wood-burning sources of heat should be ventilated properly. Always read the manufacturer’s directions before using.
Stay fed – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend having several days’ supply of food that does not need to be cooked. Crackers, cereal, canned goods and bread are good options. Make sure to have a manual can opener. In addition to food, five gallons of water per person should be stored.
Stay safe – When an outage occurs, it usually means power lines are down. It is best not to travel during winter storms. If traveling is unavoidable, bring a survival kit along, and do not travel alone. Always assume any downed lines are energized. Stay as far away from downed lines as possible and report the situation to NAEC dispatchers by calling (870) 895-3221 or a local law enforcement agency immediately.

Members who experience an outage may report it to the dispatch center by using the NAEC mobile app or calling (870) 895-3221.

Keep informed during widespread outages by visiting facebook.com/NorthARElectric. NAEC personnel also send restoration updates to local radio stations and newspapers.

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