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A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM BLUE RIDGE ENERGY
matters MEMBERSHIP
JULY 2017
You have the power to hold down the cost of electricity You can help reduce the cost of the wholesale power purchased by your not-for-profit electric cooperative to benefit all members. While Blue Ridge Energy has negotiated very favorable pricing for reliable power, our supplier charges additional fees based on how much power is required during peak times when many people demand electricity at once. During the summer, this occurs on hot days, usually between 2 to 6 p.m. By voluntarily shifting the time you use larger appliances, like dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers, you can help reduce the demand for electricity during these times. Simply schedule those chores for in the morning or after 6 p.m.
You can make an even bigger impact by raising your air conditioner thermostat to 78 degrees. For every degree you go up, you can reduce your energy use by about three percent. That helps lower power bills for your home or business, as well as what your cooperative pays for electricity — which in turn helps hold down costs for all members. When everyone works together to reduce power use during these times, we all benefit from even more affordable energy. And our goal at Blue Ridge Energy is providing you, our members, with the most affordable electricity possible!
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perspective From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson
Keeping bills low As a cooperative, we’re focused on providing good value to you, the member-owners of Blue Ridge Energy. Good value encompasses many areas including great service, reliable electricity, being your trusted energy advisor and it certainly includes keeping your bill as low as possible! I’m pleased that after three consecutive years of temporary rate reductions that saved members $27 million, we’re able to hold member rates down at 2013 levels for the remainder of 2017. Going forward we will continue our focus on controlling costs to benefit members with the most reliable electricity at the lowest possible cost. We use three key strategies to help us with our goal of lower member bills. First, because wholesale power represents almost 60 percent of your bill, managing this cost is the most significant way we can help keep your bill low. Our power supply agreement negotiated with Duke Energy Carolinas continues to provide the best value in the marketplace, which benefits our members. Page 22
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Secondly, your cooperative’s two subsidiaries produce revenue that benefits members. Our propane and fuels subsidiary (which now operates along with your cooperative under the single name of Blue Ridge Energy) and a second subsidiary, RidgeLink, which leases dark fiber to businesses, produced nearly $2.8 million in net benefit to the cooperative last year. This helps us hold down member rates. Part of the profits from subsidiaries also goes to the Members Foundation, which provides crisis heating assistance and grants to other non-profits that improve local quality of life. Thirdly, employees joining together under our WorkSmart program are creating sustainable savings from ideas to avoid costs now and in the future. Last year, ideas worth $247,000 in savings were implemented. Putting our members first is the most important value of a cooperative like Blue Ridge Energy. Keeping your bill as low as possible while providing the best, most reliable service to our members is our commitment to you, the member-owners of this cooperative!
Benefits of your cooperative membership
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As a member of a cooperative, you receive benefits including capital credits! In May, members received refunds based on a Board-approved capital credits retirement. Nearly $5 million was refunded to members this year, after first being used for investment in the electric system in previous years. Learn more about capital credits at BlueRidgeEnergy.com.
MEMBERSHIP matters
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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 first 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 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
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Be sure to keep the ticket number 811 gives you for future references or to track your request online at: ncocc.org. Remember, know what’s below before you dig − always call 811! One free, easy call gets your utility lines marked AND helps protect you from injury and expense.
To find out more information about Call 811 or the one-call utility, visitcall811.com.
Know what’s below. Always call 811 before you dig. Visit call811.com for more information.
Capital Credits: allocations vs. refunds INSERT CALL CENTER LOGO HERE
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Each member’s fiscal year 2016 capital credits allocation of the cooperative’s total margins is listed on their July bill. This is NOT a refund. Capital credits refunds were issued in May. The allocation listed on your bill is one of the first steps in the annual capital credits process.
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Here’s more about the difference between capital credits allocations and refunds:
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CALL BEFORE YOU
all participating utility underground lines marked for free and help you prevent problems or injuries. Simply call 811 and answer a few questions about your location and the type of work to be done. Underground line markings by each utility will be completed in a timely manner.
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Your annual capital credits allocation is listed on your July bill. This is NOT a refund. Capital credits refunds were issued in May.
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Allocations are based on the amount of electricity a member purchased the previous year. This annual allocation amount, which is listed on your bill as “Capital Credits Allocation,” is added to your total, ongoing capital credits account balance. A refund occurs when a percentage of your total capital credits account balance is approved through a capital credits
retirement by your Board of Directors. This means a portion of the funds being used for power lines, substations, maintenance, rights of way, and other areas that ensure members receive reliable, safe electricity are returned to the members. •
The capital credits process is an ongoing, annual process. Capital credits help reduce the need for loans and therefore; hold down costs for members while also returning funds to those who use our service: our memberowners!
Capital credits are a benefit of belonging to a cooperative. This notfor-profit business model is used by thousands of cooperatives to balance debt and equity to help keep member rates low. It also ensures money comes back to the local consumers using the cooperative’s services. Page 23
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Loans for energy efficiency improvements Blue Ridge Energy is making it easier for members interested in energy efficiency projects to improve home comfort and lower energy bills. Through the cooperative’s Powerful Solutions Energy SAVER Loan, members may borrow up to $7,500 and repay it in installments on their monthly electric bill for up to seven years at a market interest rate. These funds may be used for home projects such as adding insulation, air and duct sealing, and upgrading a heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Highly efficient mini-split ductless heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular with members utilizing the program. In the loan program, Blue Ridge Energy specialists work with the member and local energy efficiency auditors and contractors to identify upgrades that will provide maximum energy savings. Interested members are encouraged to take a brief survey and find more information about the loan program at BlueRidgeEnergy.com/Solutions.
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Blue Ridge Energy is also working with community action organizations to help lower income qualified members make weatherization and heating improvements to their homes at no cost. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson
EDITOR
Renée R. Whitener
Blue Ridge Energy modeled its Energy Saver Loan program on successful, long term loan programs that have been offered by other North Carolina cooperatives. See BlueRidgeEnergy.com/Solutions to learn more.
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Smart REBATES from
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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
(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 Night deposit available. Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEnergy.com +
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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Members can apply for the following rebates when purchasing the following: Appliances ENERGY STAR® Refrigerator (min. 15 cu. ft.) $ 25 ENERGY STAR® Freezer (min. 10 cu. ft.) $ 25 High Efficiency Heat Pump (16 SEER or greater)* $150 Geothermal Heat Pump (19 SEER or greater)* $250 Weatherization Air Sealing* up to $100 Duct Sealing or replacement up to $100 Insulation* up to $100 Building an ENERGY up to $500 STAR® home* *Indicates items for which you may also be eligible for a federal EnergyStar® tax credit in addition to the Blue Ridge Energy rebate. See BlueRidgeEnergy.com/Solutions to learn more. MEMBERSHIP matters
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