News and Events
$50,000 Energy Efficient Makeover 2013
May 1, 2013
Enter to win the $50,000 Energy Efficiency Makeover
Increasing the comfort of your home and lowering your utility bills could be just a click away as Arkansas electric cooperative members are eligible to win the 2013 Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas $50,000 Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest.
The 2013 contest marks the fifth year of the successful energy efficiency education program. While only one member wins the overall contest all members are able to learn about energy efficiency and methods to help them live more comfortably, while reducing their electricity bills.
To enter, contestants must complete an entry form, answer questions about their residence, submit a photograph of their home and be a cooperative member in good standing. The deadline for entries is July 15. Entrants must reside in Arkansas, be a member of a participating Arkansas electric cooperative and own and occupy an all-electric home.
In addition to the grand prize winner, 16 runner-ups will receive an Energy Star approved GE GeoSpring Hybrid Electric Water Heater.
Over the next few weeks Makeover 2013, will be promoted via television, radio, newspapers, social media and Arkansas Living in an effort to reach the cooperatives’ nearly 500,000 members. Applications can be obtained at http://www.smartenergytips.org or by visiting a local electric cooperative office.
To view photos, videos and information from previous Energy Efficiency Home Makeovers, go to: http://www.aecc.com/energy_efficiency_makeover.shtml.
The project’s major sponsors include: Harry G. Barr/WeatherBarr Windows of Fort Smith; General Electric Appliance and Water Heating divisions; Rood Heating and Air of Russellville; Water Furnace International Geothermal; and BPSi Foam Insulation.
Although this contest is a statewide campaign, Craighead Electric works each day with our members to provide energy-efficiency education, tips and information. Visit www.smartenergytips.org for your energy-efficiency resource tool kit.
Good luck and let us know if we can assist you.
Brian Duncan, CEO
Craighead Electric Cooperative
A Word from Our CEO - Charging education with electric vehicles
April 1, 2013
Students from across Arkansas will compete in the 10th Annual Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Electric Vehicle Rally at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds on Friday, April 19. Currently, 27 schools in Arkansas have the electric vehicles.
Students will participate in competitions designed to test their knowledge level and their vehicle’s performance. During the day-long competition, students showcase the knowledge they have gained from an electric vehicle-based curriculum and display their driving skills. The students test the acceleration, braking and handling of the vehicles that they built.
The contest is weighed heavily on academic skills. Here are a few questions (and answers) from past quiz bowl competitions.
- A device that uses two coils and an iron core to change the voltage across an object or material is a ________. Answer: Transformer
- In a DC motor, the ___________ conducts current from the brushes to the armature. Answer: Commutator.
- If you double the speed of an object, you increase its kinetic energy by a factor of ______. Answer: Four
- He discovered that when a current-bearing wire is held near a compass the needle is deflected. Answer: Who was Hans Oersted.
Did you know the answers? Many of the students did and will! The competitors work hard to prepare for the rally and take the competition very seriously. They gain a great level of knowledge and practical understanding of electric vehicles, physics, mathematics and other academic areas.
The Electric Vehicle Program motivates students to be excited about learning and exploring, both in academic and hands-on settings. It shows how real-world applications of classroom instruction can accelerate the learning process.
Although the students and teachers are very competitive, they have shown a great deal of sportsmanship and perfect manners over the past 10 years. Oftentimes parts are borrowed, ideas are exchanged, trophies are shared and, ultimately, friendships are developed.
Craighead Electric has worked with local schools and instructors as part of our cooperative’s ongoing commitment to the communities we serve. The Electric Vehicle Program is just one of the ways that your local electric cooperative works to support education throughout the year.
To learn more about the program and the 2013 Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Electric Vehicle Rally, go to http://www.aecc.com/community.
See you at the track!
Brian Duncan,
CEO, Craighead Electric Cooperative
A Word from Our CEO - Choose the Right Trees
March 3, 2013
Choose the Right Trees for Electrical Safety and Reliability
It is estimated that there are 360 species of woody plants in Arkansas with about 190 considered to be trees. The remaining are considered shrubs or woody vines.
The largest family of trees in Arkansas is the Oaks with 29 species, the Hawthorns with 18 species and the Hickories with ten species. There are hundreds of other tree genera, and if you decide to plant a tree this Spring to provide a wind break, shade or beautify your landscape,Craighead Electgric reminds you to remember the importance of planting tall-growing trees safely and away from power lines. The wrong choice can result in issues with your electrical service in the future.
Please take the time to research tree selections by consulting your local arborist, tree nursery or utility experts who can provide assistance in designing a beautiful, shade-filled yard with trees appropriate for each area of the landscape.
Choosing the right tree for the right place is crucial, especially when it comes to power lines. Trees and wood in general conduct electricity and can create a safety hazard if grown close to electric lines. Power outages or momentary interruptions can occur when branches come into contact with overhead lines. Electrical arcing and sparking from a wire to a nearby branch also can cause fires.
However, a greater concern is the safety risk when children climb trees near power lines. Accidental contact of electric wires with a tree limb or playing and trimming around the tree can be fatal. Parents and caregivers are urged to teach children never to climb trees near power lines.
If you have trees that appear to be growing into power lines, please contact Craighead Electric. Never try to prune them yourself. Craighead Electric has skilled professionals trained to safely prune and trim trees for electric line clearance.
To avoid future electrical hazards, safe planting tips to remember include:
- Consider the mature height of a tree. Never plant a tree that could grow to 25 ft. or more near a power line. Tall growing trees should be planted a minimum of 20 feet away from power lines and 50 ft. away to avoid future pruning. A mature height of less than 15 ft. is recommended for trees planted near power lines.
- Do not plant near underground utility services. Tree roots can grow to interfere with underground pipes, cables and wires. Future repairs to these facilities also could damage the health and beauty of nearby plants and trees.
- Keep areas around electric meters, transformers or other electrical equipment free of vegetation that could limit utility service access.
- Before digging, call 8-1-1 to have the locations of underground utilities marked so that accidental contact, damage and injuries can be avoided.
Have a Great Spring!
Brian Duncan,
Craighead Electric Cooperative
A Word from Our CEO - Youth Tour 2013
February 1, 2013
The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour: A commitment to the community
Each year, starting in February, Craighead Electric Cooperative begins taking applications for the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington. We spread the word through Arkansas Living magazine and in the schools. And best of all, Youth Tour alumni tell their friends about this amazing opportunity.
Arkansas’ electric cooperatives began sponsoring the tour in 1990. Since then, hundreds of young Arkansans have gone on this trip and been inspired by the sites they see. They learn about the sacrifices others have made and what it truly means to be an American. They get to walk the grounds where George Washington walked. They view the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. They walk the halls of the Capitol where the nation’s laws are crafte
d. They make new friends and dream new dreams.
Many students believe it will be too hard to win this trip or that it will take too much effort to write an essay or sit for an interview. Some are encouraged to apply by their teachers while others learn about it from their parents or grandparents who see it in the magazine. Many say they almost didn’t try. But ask any past Youth Tour winner and they will inevitably say they are glad they did. It is truly a trip of a lifetime.
During the tour, the group visits historic sites such as Mount Vernon, the World War II Memorial, the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the National Cathedral, the various museums of the Smithsonian Institution, the Newseum, which chronicles the history of the press, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, among other sites. They also often visit with members of the Arkansas Congressional Delegation.
While on the tour, the Arkansas group also meets students from 44 other states who are also on the tour. Electric cooperatives from these states sponsor students just as we do. In addition, one student will be selected from each state to serve on the Youth Leadership Council (YLC) sponsored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), which represents electric cooperatives across the nation and coordinates the Youth Tour. As the YLC representative, the student will return to Washington on July 20-24 for a special leadership building program. In February 2014, the YLC representative will attend the NRECA annual meeting.
By sponsoring the Youth Tour, Craighead Electric Cooperative is providing opportunities to help our youth grow and learn. By doing this, we are working to fulfill one of the “Seven Cooperative Principles” that guide our member-owned business – commitment to community. Just as we have helped build the state by providing affordable and reliable energy for more than seven decades, we are working to help build leaders for tomorrow. And we believe that is a very good commitment and investment to make. (For more information Click here.)
Brian Duncan
CEO
Craighead Electric Cooperative
Craighead Electric Offers Reward
July 31, 2012
Craighead Electric Offers Copper Theft Reward
Jonesboro, Ark. — July 30, 2012 — With the price of copper continuing to rise, it may at first glance appear to be an alluring target for thieves. Would be thieves might be better served thinking twice, however, considering the fatal dangers which surround those involved in stealing copper.
“Stealing material from utility poles or electric substations can cause serious injuries or death,” says Brian Duncan, CEO of Craighead Electric. “People who think stealing electric wire is a quick way to earn some money should think again. The value of metal is not worth losing a life.”
“The minimum damage that can occur is an outage, which could possibly affect thousands of individuals,” says Duncan. “Extensive outages, fires and explosions are consequences that impact innocent people. Death and the damages that result from stealing copper are completely unnecessary. People must be aware of this kind of theft and that tampering with electric power facilities can result in extremely dangerous situations for the public and worker.”
Replacing the copper wire will cost Craighead Electric a substantial amount of money. “We want to find this individual or individuals,” says Duncan. “Craighead Electric is offering a $1000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of person(s) involved in the theft of copper wire from Craighead Electric’s facilities and structures.”
Craighead Electric has invested millions of dollars to make the distribution system as reliable and safe as possible, and with the theft of copper puts it in jeopardy. Without the proper grounding, equipment on the power line may not work properly, which affects the reliability and quality of power going into your home or business.
If you see any suspicious activities, please call the Cooperative(800-794-5012) or your local law enforcement agency. When these individuals are caught, we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.
Craighead Electric Cooperative Corporation is based in Jonesboro with district offices in Paragould and Walnut Ridge. The Cooperative serves approximately 28,000 members in a seven county service territory. Founded in 1937, Craighead Electric Cooperative has 100 employees and maintains more than 4,700 miles of distribution power lines.
