July 2012
Think safety: Call 811 before digging Homeowners can make risky assumptions about whether or not they should get their utility lines marked, but every digging job requires a call – even small projects like planting trees and shrubs. The depth of utility lines varies and there may be multiple utility lines in a common area. Digging without calling to mark all underground facilities can disrupt service to an entire neighborhood, cause harm to you and others, and potentially result in fines and repair costs. For your convenience and safety, please call 811 at least two business days before any digging project. In fact, it’s required by law to notify local utilities regarding digging projects. This one call will get all your underground utility lines marked for free and help prevent problems or injuries. Simply call 811 and answer a few questions about your location and the type of work to be done. Then the work from each local participating utility company will be competed in a timely manner. Next, you’ll be ready to safely begin your project! Be sure to keep the ticket number 811 gives you in case it’s needed for future references. You can also use it to track your request online at: www.ncocc.org.
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Remember, safe digging is no accident. Know what’s below before you dig – always call 811! To find out more information about Call 811 or the one-call utility notification center in your area, visit www.call811.com.
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Every dollar earned by our two subsidiaries, which includes our business-to-business RidgeLink subsidiary, directly benefits members by helping keep your bills low. Keeping the cost you pay for electricity as low as possible is the sole reason we formed our subsidiaries. The revenue generated from these two companies is used to benefit members and offset rising electricity costs. There are a variety of drivers behind rising electricity costs that we see affecting consumers and our industry for the foreseeable future, but what I’d like to share today is how Blue Ridge Electric is looking out for our members by minimizing the impact on our members’ pocketbooks. Every member can take advantage of the services or products offered by Blue Ridge Energies. It’s exciting to think of the impact that could make on keeping costs low for our members! If you use propane in your home or business — or for recreational vehicle use or simply your gas grill — you can take advantage of Blue Ridge Energies. If you use home heating fuel, you can buy from Blue Ridge Energies. And if you need a gas or electric water heater, gas logs, space heaters, or a standby generator, you should visit the Blue Ridge Energies showroom in each of our Blue Ridge Electric district offices and let us help you. We have a fully qualified technician staff and the same great customer service to make your experience as a customer of Blue Ridge Energies outstanding. Instead of selling services to the general public, our RidgeLink subsidiary provides a service designed for other businesses. While it’s not as visible to the general public, you
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Did you know when you do business with your cooperative’s propane and heating fuels subsidiary, Blue Ridge Energies, you’re benefitting yourself as a cooperative member?
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How our subsidiaries benefit members
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n fficer can be Doug Johnso assured this subsidiary is providing great value to our members. RidgeLink was formed to lease the extra capacity of the cooperative’s fiber optic system that was installed for our automated electric ® system and metering infrastructure. Businesses looking to connect to or expand broadband and wireless communications services in our area are businesses that lease fiber from RidgeLink. RidgeLink is benefitting members by providing the key service to companies working to improve access to high-speed Internet and cellular communications in our area. The most exciting benefit for members is the opportunity RidgeLink is creating to attract jobs to our area. Most businesses depend upon technology and will increasingly do so in the future. Access to broadband and wireless services, and to the fiber optic system businesses lease from RidgeLink, will be critical to where most companies choose to locate. RidgeLink is helping make our area a more viable location for businesses offering well-paying jobs to local residents in the future. As a member-owned cooperative, everything we do at Blue Ridge Electric is designed to benefit our members and local communities. That includes our Blue Ridge Energies and RidgeLink subsidiaries. I hope you take advantage of doing business with — and benefitting — yourself when you purchase from Blue Ridge Energies. I also hope you join in our excitement as we shape the future of our region through RidgeLink. These two subsidiaries are helping keep your bills low and contributing to the mission of your cooperative to benefit members!
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More News Saturday, July 7, 2012 ASU’s Kidd Brewer Stadium Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
with special guest Lee Brice
Beca Beca c us usee Bl Blue ue Rid idge ge Ellec e tr tric ic iiss a prou proud d spon sp o so on sorr of tthi hiss ev e en ent, t, meemb me m er mb erss en enjo joyy a $5 diisc scou ount nt oon n al alll ad adul ultt tick ti cket ets! s!
An Appalachian Summer Festival Fireworks Concert featuring:
Creedence Clearwater Revisited with Lee Brice Ticket Order Form Tickets may be ordered from ASU by phone, FAX, mail, or at BlueRidgeEMC.com: 1. For mail orders, cut ( ) this form out and send it along with your check, money order, VISA® or MasterCard® number to: * Tickets will be held at the box office and can be picked Farthing Auditorium Box Office up at Farthing Auditorium on the day of the concert, or they Appalachian State University can be mailed back if a self-addressed envelope is included PO Box 32057 and received by June 30. Boone, NC 28608-2057 2. For phone orders using your VISA® or MasterCard®, call toll free: 1-800-841-2787 or (828) 262-4046 in the Boone area. Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday. Blue Ridge members: to receive your discount, have your electric account number ready. 3. FAX this order form with your VISA® or MasterCard® number to: (828) 262-2848. 4. To order tickets over the Internet, go to www.BlueRidgeEMC.com and click on “ASU Concert Tickets.”
Name Address City State Zip Blue Ridge Electric account number (required for discount) Phone (day) (evening) Check: (payable to ASU) Adult tickets x $30 = $ Children’s tickets x $ 5= $ Charge to my: Visa® MasterCard® (12 years & younger) Credit Card # Subtotal $ Exp. Date Handling Charge $ $2.00 Grand Total $ Signature All tickets must be purchased through ASU.
Explanation of capital credits allocation on your bill Your fiscal year 2011 capital credits allocation of the cooperative’s total margins is listed on your July bill. You are not receiving a refund at this time; the allocation is one of the first steps in the annual capital credits process. A refund to members will follow next May should a capital credits retirement be approved by your board of directors next year. Your allocation is based on the amount of electricity you purchased last year. This amount is added to the total, ongoing capital credits account balance you have with the cooperative. Capital credits are not held as funds; instead, they are either distributed to members in the form of capital credits retirements or reinvested into utility infrastructure for reliability and electricity delivery projects. This is an underlying principle of the cooperative business model and is one way we keep your electric rates as low as possible. Capital credits are one of the benefits of belonging to a cooperative.
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Members Only NEWS
~For Members of Blue Ridge Electric
Give your home’s energy use a vacation CORPORATE OFFICE PO Box 112 • Lenoir, NC 28645
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson EDITOR Renée R. Whitener PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Susan Simmons DISTRICT OFFICES Caldwell (828) 754-9071 Watauga (828) 264-8894 Ashe (336) 246-7138 Alleghany (336) 372-4646 Wilkes (800) 451-5474 (800) 448-2383 PowerLine® (PowerLine® is an automated account information and outage reporting system.)
Going on vacation? Here are a few ways to lower your electricity bill if you’re away a few days! • • •
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Water heater. Turn down the temperature on your water heater or turn off the water heater breaker so electricity isn’t used to heat water while you’re away. Thermostat. Turn up the temperature on your air conditioning system so you don’t waste electricity cooling a home when no one’s there. Refrigerator. Depending on food stored in your refrigerator, you may be able to turn the thermostat as high as 38 degrees without risking spoilage. Food in the freezer will stay frozen if the temperature remains at minus 5 degrees. Lights. Turn off all lights in your home or install timers on one or two lights for security. Electronics. Electronics with digital displays, instant-on features, and chargers that are plugged in will consume energy even if they’re not in use. Unless you’re recording something while away, unplug your TV and other devices including computers, game systems, microwaves, DVD players, and digital clocks.
For more tips on how to lower electricity bills, visit the “GreenSmart” section of BlueRidgeEMC.com, find us on Facebook, or call us for a free energy efficiency tips booklet at your local Blue Ridge Electric office.
Toll Free 1 (800) 451-5474 (for members outside the service area) To report an outage at any time, call one of the numbers listed above. OFFICE HOURS 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday Night deposit available. Visit us on the Web: www.BlueRidgeEMC.com
Did you know that you can now download a Co-op Connections® Card mobile app for any smartphone, pad or tablet? This mobile platform offers ALL active deals within the Co-op Connections network. A GPS feature can also map deals in your immediate area. For example, just say, “I want restaurants” and get a list of nearby options. Then simply show your smart device to the vendor, and you’re all set. Go to TouchstoneEnergy.com and click on the Co-op Connections Card for your free download today!
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