A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM BLUE RIDGE ENERGY
matters MEMBERSHIP
Site preparation is underway for the new Rutherwood Substation in Watauga County.
September 2019
Largest reliability project in Blue Ridge history progresses The largest electric reliability project in Blue Ridge Energy’s history is progressing with preparation of the site for the new Rutherwood Substation in Watauga County. While construction on the actual substation for this multi-year project will not begin for another two or three years, a key part of the project has begun to ensure beautification and preservation of woodlands currently on the property. Design of the substation site by local engineering firm, Municipal Engineering, provides landscaping with a heavy screening of shrubs and trees, which will be planted in the next several months so that they will be well established before actual substation construction begins.
The substation is part of the cooperative’s transmission line upgrade, originating in Ashe County, to increase capacity and improve reliability for members in the mountain service areas of Blue Ridge Energy. The project also includes the upgrade of a more than 50-year-old transmission line that is reaching the maximum life span to serve members. The new line will increase capacity by converting an existing 100 kV line to a 230 kV line to meet current and future member growth and demand for electricity.
The screening plants will be located at the edge of the substation pad to obscure the view from the highway. The slope below the screening plants will be planted in grass.
The upgraded transmission line will carry power from Ashe County to the new Rutherwood substation, which will provide electricity to all of Watauga County and provide backup capacity for other parts of the Blue Ridge Energy electric system.
Landscaping plans include preserving as many trees as possible currently on the property. Over 160,000 cubic feet of fill dirt will be moved this summer from the property adjacent to the substation site in order to construct the substation pad.
“This is a vital project as we must ensure we’re meeting the needs of members year round, especially during the severe cold winter weather our mountains experience,” said Alan Merck, Chief Operating Officer for Blue Ridge Energy.
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the
perspective From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson
Service a New app How members benefit from our subsidiaries When your cooperative first diversified in 1998 by adding a propane and heating fuels subsidiary, which we now operate under the shared market name of Blue Ridge Energy, it was to benefit members and keep your bills as low as possible. That was also the goal when we added a second subsidiary in 2009: RidgeLink, which leases high capacity fiber to broadband and wireless service providers. Our subsidiaries are benefitting members and the customers they serve in several important ways.
through their contributions. Last year, Propane and Fuels and RidgeLink donated $50,000 to the Members Foundation to be used for crisis heating assistance and community grants to improve health care, education, elder and youth services, and more. Pay Balance
Our Propane and Fuels subsidiary also leases space Check Balance to provide showrooms in Call, Chat, Email each of the cooperative’s district offices where you can visit to receive expert advice and purchase products such as fireplaces and gas logs, space heaters, backup power generators, water heaters, outdoor fire tables, patio heaters, custom grills, outdoor furniture and more!
Pay Yo
In addition to providing local jobs to strengthen the economy Check in our service area, profits Call, C earned by the subsidiaries are Caldwell district’s hearth and home showroom used to keep your electric bills as low as possible. In 2018, our As members, it’s important for you to know about Search subsidiary companies produced a combined “Blue R your subsidiary companies. We hope you join us net benefit of $3.3 million to the cooperative: App” an in our excitement to pursue continued growth $2.0 million from Propane and Fuels and it for fre out our newest “al in order to increase subsidiary benefits to Check you and $1.3 million from RidgeLink, all of which helped smartp easier. Because service a all members by helping keep rates as low as possible keep member rates stable and as low as possible! and contributing to the local quality of life in our communities. Our subsidiaries also benefit local communities Sear
Visit your local Blue Ridge Energy showroom today! Talk to one of our energy experts about the home and hearth products available for your home’s comfort and beauty.
“Blu Mob and for f sma or ta
Go online to learn more: www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com/showrooms. Page 22
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MEMBERSHIP matters
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MEM
For the best service . . . Please contact us any time you change your telephone number, e-mail or mailing address. This helps us provide you with the best member service experience, especially during outages or when you need us. It also ensures timely delivery of important items such as your capital credits refund!
ervice at Your Fingertips New app o ers one-stop options
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Report Power Outages
Outage Map Download ourCheck App!
t, Email
Receive Notifications
Pay Your Bill Check Balance Call, Chat, Email
Report Power Outages Check Outage Map Receive Notifications
Search for “Blue Ridge Mobile App” and download it for free on your ut our newest “alwaysoron” service designed to make your life a bit smartphone tablet!
ecause service at your fingertips almost always gets a thumbs up. le
ters
Search for “Blue Ridge Mobile App” and download it for free on your smartphone or tablet!
MEMBERSHIP matters
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Do you have money waiting? To help our members or former members receive refunds due to them through the cooperative’s capital credits retirements, all unclaimed capital credits are listed on our website. To check the list, visit BlueRidgeEnergy.com and click the “Residential” tab. Click the “Money Back to You! Capital Credits” area and scroll to the bottom of the page to find the Unclaimed Capital Credits link. Unclaimed capital credits are funds waiting for those whose capital credits checks were returned to us as “undeliverable” by the post office. This is an important reason to always contact us any time your address changes. If you are on the list, please contact us, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Proof of identity will be necessary to receive the refunds.
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Converting rights-of-way to wildlife habitats
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson
Enhancing the natural beauty of western North Carolina while ensuring reliable electricity for members is why Blue Ridge Energy has made available funds to help convert rights-of-way to wildlife habitats.
honeybees and other pollinators.
Up to $500 per acre is available to members who have cooperative rights-of-way on their property in wooded or other qualifying areas. The funds are to help offset costs the member would incur to remove trees and plant certain types of grass, low-growing shrubs, wildflowers and other vegetation to attract wildlife such as rabbits, turkeys, birds, deer and
Programs like this not only benefit the environment and improve appearance, they also help ensure reliable electricity for members and give line technicians a safe pathway when working on power lines.
Members qualify for funds only if they contact Blue Ridge Energy’s vegetation management staff and receive approval prior to the start of their project.
Visit BlueRidgeEnergy.com and click on the “Resources” tab for more information.
EDITOR
Reneé R. Whitener
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
Join us: Telephone Town Hall
DISTRICT OFFICES
Join us on our Telephone Town Hall Thursday evening, October 24, at 6:30 p.m. To participate, simply answer your telephone when we call during this time.
Susan Simmons 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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You’ll hear Chief Executive Officer Doug Johnson discuss timely updates about your cooperative, including member refunds coming later this year! You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions. We’ll call members a few days prior to the event with a reminder of the date, time and how to participate. The primary phone number listed on members’ accounts will be used, so please be sure to contact us today to update your information if needed!
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
MEMBERSHIP matters
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