A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM BLUE RIDGE ENERGY
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August 2017
Did you know...by voluntarily shifting the time you use larger
appliances like dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers, you can help reduce the need for electricity during peak times. Simply schedule those chores for in the morning or after 6 p.m. in the summer.
What's in it for me? Do you want to keep costs down for yourself and every member of your cooperative? When members join together, you can have a bigger impact on keeping bills low. You’ve probably heard that reducing your power use during peak demand times helps lower the cost of the power purchased by your not-for-profit electric cooperative. This, in turn, holds down costs for members. But what exactly is “peak demand?” Peaks typically occur on the hottest and coldest days of the year. These are times when members use the most air conditioning or heating, all at the same time. Appliances, lighting and electronics are in use as well. This creates periods of a “peak” in demand for electricity. Your cooperative pays the highest rates for electricity during peak demand periods. This is because wholesale power suppliers are working at maximum
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capacity to generate and fulfill power needs from many different users all at once. By reducing the amount of electricity needed during higher-cost peak periods, it helps keep the price we pay for wholesale power as low as possible, which in turn keeps your power bill as low as possible. To control costs, we have to “beat the peak!” That’s why Blue Ridge Energy is asking each member to volunteer! Take steps to reduce electricity consumption during the late afternoons in July and August. These are typically the hottest times of summer and produce peak demand periods. Here are a few ways you can help: Raise your thermostat a few degrees; turn off unnecessary lights; shift doing laundry until late evening; try grilling dinner outdoors instead of using your oven. Any steps you take to reduce electricity usage to help beat the peak will help control costs! That’s a win-win for all of us!
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From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson
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Coal ash impact to members Providing you, the member-owners of Blue Ridge Energy, with the lowest-cost electricity possible is our most important goal. As a not-for-profit cooperative, it’s foundational to how we serve members, alongside ensuring your electricity flows reliably, safely and in an environmentally responsible manner. Today, a significant cost challenge is facing your cooperative and other utilities as a result of recent state legislation and federal regulations related to the remediation of coal ash by Duke Energy. For decades, many have benefitted from low-cost electricity generated by coal plants. Now, legislation passed by the NC General Assembly in 2014 and 2016 requires coal ash to be managed in a more environmentally acceptable manner, and this is increasing the price of our wholesale power. Since this will affect the price everyone pays for electricity, I want to keep you informed as we work hard to manage the cost impact to our members. First, it’s important to understand that while Blue Ridge Energy doesn’t own any coal plants, these laws and regulations are impacting the price we pay for wholesale power from our supplier, Duke Energy Carolinas. This, in turn, will make up part of the costs we pay for electricity. Secondly, to help keep member rates as low as
possible, Blue Ridge Energy has negotiated with Duke Energy Carolinas for a fair, just and reasonable allocation of the costs required of Duke for coal ash compliance. Duke’s compliance includes relocating some coal ash ponds and capping others to meet the new environmental regulations for storage and reuse of coal ash. Blue Ridge Energy members will not be responsible for any costs incurred by Duke Energy Carolinas for their cleanup, legal defense and fines associated with the Dan River spill. The specific impact to our rates won’t be fully known until after the retail rate case for Duke Energy Carolinas is finalized by the NC Utilities Commission. We anticipate that process will begin in the fall of 2017. (Be aware that you may hear about a different rate case for Duke which began in June. That case is for Duke Energy Progress, a different subsidiary than the one supplying your cooperative’s wholesale power.) With the information available at this time, Blue Ridge Energy anticipates the need for a rate adjustment in 2018 as a result of Duke’s coal ash remediation. Based on current estimates, we believe the increase will be around three percent. We will keep you informed as the rate case for Duke Energy Carolinas concludes and the impact is determined. You can be assured that our goal is to continue providing you, the member-owners of Blue Ridge Energy, with the lowest cost electricity possible!
Board Update: Over 6,500 members voted in this year’s director elections thanks to convenient options of voting by mail or internet. Directors elected to serve three-year terms were: David Eggers, Caldwell district; Tom Trexler, Watauga district; David Boone, Ashe district; and John “Johnny” F. Wishon, Alleghany district. The following Board members were also elected as officers: Kenneth Greene, president; Jeff Joines, vice president; Joy Coffey, secretary-treasurer; and David Eggers, assistant secretary-treasurer. Page 26
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MEMBERSHIP matters
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Blue Ridge Electric Members Foundation Offers $139,000 in grant opportunities The Blue Ridge Electric Members Foundation is accepting grant applications for $139,000 in available funds for its 2017 grant cycle. Applications are due by August 31. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Foundation has awarded $828,134 to 188 local nonprofit organizations and projects for improving health and wellness, education, economic and community development, the environment, and other quality of life initiatives. Grants are available for nonprofit organizations in the service areas of the cooperative and its propane and fuels subsidiary, including: Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Allegany, Avery, Alexander, and Wilkes counties in North Carolina, and Grayson County, Virginia. Funding for Foundation grants comes from nearly 30,000 members participating in Blue Ridge Energy’s Operation Round Up® and Operation Round Up Plus® programs as well as contributions from the cooperative’s subsidiaries.
In 2016, Blue Ridge Developmental Daycare received a $15,000 grant to make needed changes and additions to their facility to comply with emergency preparedness standards for NC-regulated childcare facilities.
For an application or to learn more, visit BlueRidgeEnergy.com and click on the Community tab. Or, contact Grey Scheer, director of community relations, at GScheer@BlueRidgeEnergy.com or by calling 1-800-451-5474, extension 3294.
Balancing beauty with reliable, safe electricity Blue Ridge Energy takes great pride in providing members with the most reliable electricity possible. Tree contact with power lines is the single leading cause of outages and that’s why we have a carefully planned vegetation management program. We’re also committed to protecting the natural beauty of our landscapes and being good environmental stewards. Blue Ridge Energy helps ensure reliability by controlling large tree and brush growth for the 7,760 miles of distribution lines and 280 miles of transmission lines delivering electricity to our members. Keeping trees away from power lines is also a safety precaution. Trees and other objects that come into contact with power lines can become energized, leading to shock or electrocution. MEMBERSHIP matters
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Even fallen power lines can still be energized, which is why no one but our line technicians should ever go near a downed power line. A clear path for power lines is also a safer working environment for line technicians performing routine maintenance or power restoration. Members can help ensure safe, reliable electricity by avoiding planting trees near power lines. Blue Ridge has two certified arborists to assist members with choosing the best trees and planting locations, or removing trees that could be hazardous. Tree vouchers and stump grinding are available for those identified as critical for removal in order to prevent growth into power lines. A planting guide and related information is available under the Resources tab at BlueRidgeEnergy.com. Page 27
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Deadline is September 15
Teachers: apply now for Bright Ideas grants! Blue Ridge Energy is celebrating 23 years of helping teachers instruct and students learn with the help of classroom grants called Bright Ideas. Bright Ideas grants are designed to help teachers enhance their classroom educational experiences. Since 1994, Blue Ridge Each year, Blue Ridge Energy Energy has awarded provides up to $17,000 to fund Bright more than $426,000 Ideas grants in the cooperative’s in Bright Ideas grants service area. Grant awards range impacting over from a few hundred dollars up to the 100,000 students. maximum of $1,500 and are announced each November for innovative classroom projects that benefit students and are not able to be funded by regular school budgets.
Teachers and administrators can access the Bright Ideas application and information at ncbrightideas.com. The deadline for applications is September 15.
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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson
EDITOR
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Renée R. Whitener
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PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Susan Simmons
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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 +
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Pay as you go! Our FlexPay plan lets you purchase electricity in any amount that fits your budget! Pay on any schedule you like: daily, weekly or monthly! With FlexPay, simply keep your account funded at a level to power your usage. Get balance alerts by text, email or phone call. You can pay 24/7 by phone, kiosks, or our new mobile app. Pay for electricity on your terms − FlexPay puts YOU in control!
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
MEMBERSHIP matters
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