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Keeping costs low Why Beat The Peak? With power costs rising, Blue Ridge Energy is looking at all ways to control costs. An important way members can join with us in this effort is by signing up and taking action to Beat The Peak. Peaks are the short periods of time on the hottest summer afternoons or coldest winter mornings when the most electricity is being consumed. Power producers must generate enough electricity to meet that extreme demand. In our area, peaks usually occur between 2-7 p.m., on the hottest summer weekdays and from 6-9 a.m. on the coldest winter mornings. When you sign up for Beat The Peak, you’ll receive your choice of a text or email letting you know when a peak period is expected. Then, you can choose to take action to help “Beat The Peak” by shifting some of your electricity consumption outside of peak hours. Steps such as adjusting your thermostat, turning off unnecessary lights and delaying laundry until after the peak are examples of simple but helpful steps members can take. If members voluntarily reduce their electricity usage during peak demand times, it can make a big difference in controlling expensive wholesale power costs to keep rates — and bills — low. Sign up today! It’s free and voluntary. Learn more or sign up at BlueRidgeEnergy.com/BTP. Or simply text “btp” to 70216 to sign up.
Teachers: apply now for Bright Ideas grants! In honor of the 30th year of awarding Bright Ideas grants, $30,000 will be awarded to K-12 teachers who submit winning grant ideas for creative learning projects. Teachers must apply by Sept. 15. Submit grant applications and learn more at ncbrightideas.com. Winners, who are announced in November, can be awarded up to $1,500 for an individual grant. Bright Ideas grants benefit students with learning opportunities that are not able to be funded by regular school budgets.
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