matters MEMBERSHIP
April 2017
Did you know...each completed efficiency project benefits all members by reducing system demand from heating and cooling; helping our cooperative to keep rates as low as possible?
Energy Efficiency Loans you can repay on your monthly electric bill It’s been almost a year since Blue Ridge launched the Energy SAVER (Savings After Verified Efficiency Renovations) Loan program and results have been outstanding for members, local home performance professionals and contractors. Energy SAVER loans are designed to help members finance energy efficiency improvements to their homes. Interested members can get started on our website at BlueRidgeEMC.com/energy-saver-loan-program-app. Next, one of Blue Ridge’s trusted energy advisors will contact you to set up an appointment for a home energy audit. The audit typically includes a blower door test, using an infrared camera to identify air leaks and potential insulation improvements, and if needed, a duct blaster test. The cost of the audit varies based on the size of the home and the number of heating and cooling systems it contains. Participating members
prepay $50 to secure the home energy audit and the remaining cost may be rolled into a loan if the member decides to move forward with a project for efficiency improvements. So far, the most common use for our Energy SAVER loan program has been upgrading old or broken heat pumps. If a member decides to install a high efficiency heat pump with 16 or higher SEER rating, they qualify for a $150 rebate. Envelope improvements like air sealing, duct sealing and insulation upgrades are also popular projects members are using the loan program for. These projects all qualify for $100 rebates for each completed project. Energy SAVER loans can even be used to purchase and install a smart thermostat, encapsulate your basement/ crawlspace or even to install a more efficient water heater. See “Energy Efficiency Loans” on page 39
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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 on our website to receive the kit by email can help reduce costs for your member-owned electric cooperative. This ultimately benefits you as a member.
To make it easier than ever to participate, I encourage members to sign up to receive their director election kit by email and vote online. If you sign up at BlueRidgeEMC.com by April 24, you’ll be entered to win a Smart TV! (See details below.)
While we’ve modernized voting opportunities as well as the Annual Meeting in recent years, members can still opt to attend and vote during the Annual Meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 22, at the corporate office in Lenoir.
Thanks to online and mail voting options, I’m pleased to share that approximately 7,000 members vote each year to elect their directors. 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, where only around 800 members were voting.
The Annual Meeting is 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.
We understand some members do not have access to the Internet. That’s why we mail the director election kit if you’re not signed up to receive it by email. When you receive the mailed kit, you can choose to return your vote by mail or use the special code provided to vote online.
Sign up by APRIL 24 to be entered to
WIN a Smart LED TV MEMBERSHIP matters
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E
Whether you receive the director election kit by email or traditional mail, we hope that when the kit is sent on May 24, you’ll take a moment to vote! Voting for your directors is one of the most important — and 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 24! Page 38
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Coming in May: Director Election Kit, Annual Meeting notice Members will be sent their Annual Meeting notice and director election kit on May 24. •
embers who sign up by April 24 to receive their kit electronically should look for M an email that includes a link to the election site. Click on the link and vote online any time before 5 p.m. on June 14, 2017. To sign up, go to BlueRidgeEMC.com and look for the red button that says “Director Elections.”
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M embers who receive the kit by mail can also vote online using their personal code and information listed in their kit for the online director election site.
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M embers may also vote by returning the postage-paid proxy form included in their kit. Proxies must be received by 5 p.m. on June 14, 2017.
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F inally, members can vote during the business-format Annual Meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 22, at 4 p.m., at the cooperative’s corporate office in Lenoir.
Energy Efficiency Loans (continued from p. 37) Blue Ridge Energy will loan up to $7,500 over 7 years at prime plus 2 percent interest (as of early March, the interest rate was 5.75 percent). Blue Ridge Energy is allied with the NC Building Performance Association to identify outstanding local home energy auditors and contractors to utilize in the Energy SAVER Loan program. You can find a list of these trade partners at BlueRidgeEMC.com/energy-saver-contractor-list. In only nine months, Blue Ridge Energy has audited
20 homes and financed 15 completed energy efficiency improvements to member homes. For 2017, the budget for Energy SAVER loans has been doubled to $200,000 with a goal of completing 40 projects. Energy SAVER Loans are another way our cooperative serves its members as their trusted energy advisor. Call us today to learn more about this program that can save you money now and in the future. We want to make life better!
Mark your calendars for our next Telephone Town Hall! As part of our efforts to connect with members, Blue Ridge Energy has been offering periodic Telephone Town Halls. The next Telephone Town Hall is scheduled for Tuesday, May 9, beginning at 6:30 pm. CEO Doug Johnson will be sharing timely updates and information. To listen and have the opportunity to ask questions, simply answer the phone when we call on May 9 at 6:30 pm.
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. MEMBERSHIP matters
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As a helpful reminder, we’ll be calling members a few days in advance of the event to remind you of the date and how to participate. On the advance call, you’ll be given the opportunity to opt out of the Telephone Town Hall call if you wish. We will not call members who have already notified us they wish to opt out. Page 39
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Pick up a free “Energy Savers” booklet from any district office.
If your bill is high, we can help! Swings in outside temperatures can 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 winter weather still impacts heating systems. Spending more time inside during winter months also means using more electricity for lighting, appliances and other electronics — all of which increases electricity usage and costs. One of the easiest ways to manage your bill is by signing up for our FlexPay program. This “payas-you-use” plan lets you pay in smaller amounts on a daily or weekly basis rather than paying one larger monthly bill. Payments can be made any time by phone, online or at district and community kiosks. You still receive all member benefits on this program, including capital credits.
a customized payment plan. •
For crisis needs, a local social services agency can determine if you qualify for crisis heating assistance from Operation Round Up® or other state and federal funds.
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Budget Billing is another option. On this program, we review your past usage to set up equal monthly payments, with a true up in the 12th month to cover any unusual increases or decreases in your usage.
Doug Johnson
For those on our traditional payment plan, you may find these additional options helpful:
How can I lower my usage and costs? Blue Ridge Energy offers members a free, customized Energy Advisor under “My Account” at BlueRidge EMC.com. This tool provides specific ways to reduce usage and costs for your home. If a member does not have Internet access, simply call Blue Ridge Energy to do the audit by phone.
EDITOR
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You can automatically set up a three-day time extension by calling 1-800-451-5474 and pressing “3.” Each extension is $10, but this can be less costly than late or reconnection fees. In severe situations, we can arrange
Sometimes, simply tracking your daily usage will create awareness and generate ideas on ways to reduce usage to lower your bill. Blue Ridge Energy offers you a free, customized Usage Tracker tool at BlueRidge EMC.com/UsageTracker.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
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
Monitor your usage and take control of your costs with Energy Advisor under “My Account” 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 PowerLine at (800) 448-2383. OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday Kiosk available 24/7 + Night deposit Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEMC.com +
MEMBERSHIP matters
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This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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