matters MEMBERSHIP
April 2016
Inviting you to our Telephone Town Hall! As part of our efforts to connect with members, Blue Ridge Electric is offering a “Telephone Town Hall” on April 5, beginning at 6:30 pm. A Telephone Town Hall is a phone call to all members to allow you to ask questions or
simply listen to others or our Chief Executive Officer Doug Johnson as he shares brief updates about your cooperative. To participate — or just listen in — all you have to do is answer the phone when we call on April 5 at 6:30 pm. We’ll call members a few days in advance of the event to remind you of the date and how to participate. We’ll be calling the phone number listed on your account with us, so please be sure to contact us to update your information if needed.
Coming in May: Director Election Kit, Annual Meeting notice On May 18, members will be sent their Annual Meeting notice and director election kit. Members who signed up to receive the kit by email will receive it electronically on this date and will be provided a link to conveniently vote online. The kit will be mailed on May 18 to all other members, who will have the option to also vote by Internet using information provided in the kit or by returning the postage-paid proxy form. Members can also vote during the business-format Annual Meeting, on Thursday, June 16, at 4 p.m. at the cooperative’s corporate office in Lenoir.
BlueRidge-0416.indd 33
3/8/16 4:05 PM
the
perspective From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson
Your most important cooperative benefit One of the most important benefits you have as a cooperative member is your right to elect other members to represent you on Blue Ridge Electric’s Board of Directors.
However, members who sign up to receive the kit by email and vote by clicking on the link provided, help reduce costs for your cooperative, which ultimately benefits you as a member.
To make it easier than ever to participate, I encourage members to sign up to vote electronically and get their director election kit by email. If you do so by April 4, you’ll be entered to win a Smart TV! (See details below.)
While we’ve modernized voting options and the Annual Meeting in recent years, members may still opt to attend and vote during the Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 16, at 4 p.m. at the corporate office in Lenoir.
Due to electronic options to participate, I’m very pleased that around 7,000 members vote to elect their directors each year. That’s a huge increase from several years ago when the only way to participate was to attend the Annual Meeting on a Saturday morning — and only around 800 members were voting. We understand some members do not have access to the Internet and that’s why we mail the director election kit and allow you to return your vote by mail if you’re not signed up to receive it electronically.
Sign up by APRIL 4 to be entered to
WIN a Smart LED TV Page 34
BlueRidge-0416.indd 34
The Annual Meeting is now a business format, with management and financial reports provided as well as announcement of director election results. This information will also be available on our website, in Carolina Country, our member newsletter, and annual report. Whether you receive it by email or traditional mail, we hope when the kit is sent on May 18 that you’ll take a moment to vote! Voting for your directors is one of the most important — and now one of the easiest — ways to participate in your electric cooperative!
You’re automatically entered when you sign up to e-vote and receive the director election kit by email at BlueRidgeEMC.com/elections. Please hurry! You must be signed up by April 4! MEMBERSHIP matters
3/8/16 4:05 PM
d e r t . e !
s
Announcing Powerful Solutions is the name of Blue Ridge Electric’s new services and programs rolling out this year to help members save money through energy efficiency. Members told us they trust their cooperative to provide expertise, direction and help in making the best choices to save energy and save money on electric bills. That’s the reason behind programs such as the Energy Saver Loan Program — the first in a series of options coming to members this year! The Energy Saver Loan is designed to help members improve the comfort and energy efficiency of their home. While monthly energy costs are impacted by a wide variety of factors including the number of people in your home, heating and cooling use, lighting, appliances and even the weather, there may be energy efficiency options you can implement to lower your usage and reduce your bill. Under the loan program, Blue Ridge Electric works with you to identify upgrades that will provide the most energy savings for your home. Qualifying members can borrow up to $7,500 and repay it over time with their monthly electric bill. You’ll find information about the Energy Saver Loan on the cover wrap of this issue of Carolina Country and at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com/solutions, where you can also quickly see if you pre-qualify for this loan. As our members’ trusted energy advisor, Blue Ridge Electric is excited to be offering the Energy Saver Loan and other programs throughout this year. Stay tuned to your member newsletter and online at BlueRidgeEMC.com/ solutions for updates!
Members continue to enjoy historic rate reduction A year-long rate reduction equal to a 15 percent decrease is in place for members. This is saving the typical member $18 a month (based on 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity usage). This reduction is made possible due to lower than projected wholesale power costs from historically low natural gas prices. The reduction began in December 2015 and will continue through December 2016.
MEMBERSHIP matters
BlueRidge-0416.indd 35
Page 35
3/8/16 4:05 PM
Pick up a free “Energy Savers” booklet from any district office.
If your bill is high, we can help! Even with a temporary rate reduction on members’ bills starting in December 2015 and continuing throughout 2016, this winter’s cold weather may still be causing your bill to be higher than normal.
•
Significant changes in outside temperatures cause your heating system to work harder, run longer and use more electricity to keep your home heated. Setting your thermostat back a few degrees can help, but severely cold weather still impacts heating systems. Being inside more in winter also means using more electricity for lighting, appliances and other electronics — all of which increases electricity usage and costs.
What are easier ways to pay and manage my bill?
We offer options to help with high bills: • CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson
EDITOR Renée R. Whitener
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Susan Simmons
DISTRICT OFFICES Caldwell Watauga Ashe Alleghany Wilkes PowerLine®
(828) 754-9071 (828) 264-8894 (336) 846-7138 (336) 372-4646 (800) 451-5474 (800) 448-2383
Toll Free
(800) 451-5474
You can set up a three-day time extension by calling 1-800-4515474 and pressing “3.” Each extension is $10, but this can be less costly than accumulating late or reconnection fees. To discuss a customized payment arrangement plan, call us at 1-800-4515474 and remain on the line for a member services representative. Acting before your bill is due can help you avoid unnecessary fees!
If you need more assistance, a local social services agency can determine if you qualify for crisis heating assistance from Operation Round Up® or state and federal funds.
Our FlexPay “pay-as-you-use” plan lets you pay in smaller amounts rather than one larger monthly bill. Pay any amount, any time of the day or night by phone, online or at district kiosks. No deposit is required, and there are no late or reconnection fees. Budget Billing equalizes your payments with the same amount for 11 months followed by an “even up” amount billed or credited in the 12th month. Combine this with bank draft for more convenience and to help avoid late fees. How can I lower my usage and costs? Blue Ridge Electric offers members a free, customized Energy Advisor online energy audit at BlueRidgeEMC.com. It provides specific ways to reduce costs based on your home. If a member does not have Internet access, simply call Blue Ridge Electric to do the audit by phone.
Monitor your usage and take control of your costs with Energy Advisor under “My Account” at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com!
(PowerLine® is an automated account information and outage reporting system.)
(for members outside of 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 Kiosk available 24/7 + Night deposit Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEMC.com +
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Page 36
BlueRidge-0416.indd 36
MEMBERSHIP matters
3/8/16 4:05 PM