embership M
01
TWENTY TWENTY SIX
MATTERS
Restoring Power During A Storm
Step by step... Restoring power after a major outage can be a huge undertaking that involves much more than simply throwing a switch or removing a tree from a line. The goal is to safely restore power to members in the shortest amount of time. Our plan is based on these priorities: Step 1: Transmission structures and lines: if these are damaged, we must first make repairs to these critical, high-voltage transmission lines and substations that are the main power delivery lines. Step 2: Next are distribution substations, which “step down” (reduce) voltage from transmission lines so it can be safely delivered to thousands of members. Step 3: Main distribution supply lines (the ones you see on poles along roads) that carry electricity away from substations are targeted next. Step 4: The final power supply lines to a member’s home, called “tap lines,” are restored next if damaged. These carry the power from utility poles and underground transformers. Step 5: Damage can also occur on the service line leading from the transformer pole into your home. This could be why your neighbors have power, and you don’t — one reason all outages should be reported. If experiencing an outage, members should report it to the cooperative in one of several ways: by calling our PowerLine at 1-800-448-2383, through Blue Ridge Energy’s mobile app, or by texting “OUT” to 70216 when your mobile number is listed on your account with the cooperative. For more information and tips, visit our Storm Room at BlueRidgeEnergy.com.
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THE
Perspective 90 Year s Of Powering You
From Blue Ridge Energy CEO Katie Woodle
The New Year often signals change, but in 2026, we’re celebrating what has remained constant: our commitment to serving you with reliable energy at the lowest possible cost—for 90 years and counting.
as capital credits—back to you each May. For the average home using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month, keeping your home warm, your lights on, and your devices running costs less than a cup of specialty coffee each day.
A Legacy Built Around You This year marks nine decades since our local communities, once left in the dark, came together to bring electricity to homes, businesses and farms across northwest North Carolina. Door by door, member by member, the foundation of your cooperative was laid—dedicated to supporting local communities, strengthening the local economy, and delivering electric service that you can count on.Founded by local people, powered by local people, and guided by a mission to make life better for those we serve—these values remain at the heart of everything we do.
Providing reliable electricity at the most affordable price possible is a challenge we take seriously every day. Two of the many ways we help hold down costs is through our WorkSmart program and subsidiaries. Our WorkSmart program is an employee-led effort that identifies cost-saving opportunities to implement across your cooperative to benefit our members. Two for-profit subsidiaries—Blue Ridge Energy Propane and Fuels, and RidgeLink LLC—continue to deliver record performance, returning profits to the parent cooperative and helping us manage some of the impacts of rising wholesale power costs. I’ll share more in upcoming columns about ways we’re working to mitigate rising wholesale power costs that continue to be a significant challenge for your cooperative and others across the industry.
The Value of Electricity Electricity powers nearly every aspect of modern life, yet its value is often overlooked. In 1936, electricity was a luxury that certainly made life better. Today, it’s the backbone of our homes and businesses, fueling technology and convenience, and it continues to make life better. As a not-for-profit cooperative, we focus on delivering value. That means providing affordable energy while returning margins—known
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Looking Ahead As we celebrate a new year and our 90th anniversary, we thank you for your trust and partnership. For 90 years, you’ve been at the center of everything we do—and that won’t change.
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A c a t p a c t c
A o t a f a g
N s m d e t t
D s e d A a B i t k o
Q R l C f a
Interested In Becoming A C andidate For T he B oard Of Direc tor s? A member wishing to be considered as a candidate for the Board of Directors has two application options: the nominating committee process or the nomination by petition process. Interested members must complete and submit a director application packet by contacting Crystal Spencer, Chief Administrative Officer, at cspencer@blueridgeenergy. com or 828-759-8959. All application information is due by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026, when going through the Nominating Committee process, and by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, for those seeking nomination by petition. The application process includes a complete background check. Nominations by petition must include signatures of 20 or more members with a minimum of five from each of the four directorate districts with a requirement that each signature is the name that appears on the member’s electric service bill along with the address that appears on the same bills. Directors are members of the cooperative and serve three-year terms, with three directors elected from each of the Cooperative’s four directorate (Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany) districts. Each director represents all members of the Cooperative. They attend Board meetings, Board committee meetings, and attend numerous training sessions throughout the year to be equipped and knowledgeable to serve in the best interests of the membership. Qualifications to serve as a director of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation are listed below from Section 3.02 of the Cooperative’s Bylaws. These can also be found online at BlueRidgeEnergy.com or at any local district office.
SECTION 3.02 Qualifications. To be eligible to become or remain a Director of the Cooperative, such person must meet the following qualifications: (a) must be a natural person and a citizen of the United States, (b) must be at least eighteen (18) years of age, (c) must have been a member for a minimum of three (3) years, and such three (3) year period may include at the time of application by a director candidate, the membership duration of a spouse, as long as the director candidate applies for and becomes a joint member prior to being elected or appointed as a Director of the Cooperative, (d) must have a high school diploma or GED, (e) must be receiving electric service from the Cooperative at his primary residence which shall be for qualification purposes where a member is registered to vote and spends most of his time, (f) must not have had a membership that has been in a state of suspension as defined in Section 1.10, (g) must have and sustain the Cooperative’s most favorable credit rating as defined in the Service Rules and Regulations, as herein defined in Section 3.15, (h) must not have been involved at any time in meter tampering reported to law enforcement,
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Continued...Interested In Becoming A C andidate For T he B oard Of Direc tor s?
(i) must be legally competent and available to attend regular Board meetings, committee meetings, training and other events. Directors who miss more than two consecutive regular Board meetings may be subject to removal action by the Board. It shall be the duty of the Board to develop additional policy guidelines on attendance requirements, (j) must not in any way be employed by, financially interested in, or serving as an officer, director, trustee or equivalent for a competing enterprise with the Cooperative or its subsidiaries, or a business that sells products, services or supplies to the Cooperative or its subsidiaries, (k) must not have a close relative (as hereinafter defined in Section 3.14) who is in any way employed by, financially interested in, or serving as an officer, director, trustee, or equivalent for a competing enterprise with the Cooperative or its subsidiaries, or a business that sells products, services or supplies to the Cooperative or its subsidiaries,
(l) must not have been convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or a felony pursuant to state or federal laws, (m) must not have been a former regular full-time employee of the Cooperative or its subsidiaries, (n) must not have a close relative who is an employee of the Cooperative or its subsidiaries or incumbent director as defined in Section 3.14 of these Bylaws, (o) must comply with the requirements of the governing conflict of interest policies and guidelines as adopted by the Board, and the Cooperative’s non-discrimination policy, and (p) Must complete a conflict-of-interest statement as part of the formal candidacy application process that includes disclosure of any nonmember campaign assistance.
Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEnergy.com CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Katie Woodle EDITOR Renée R. Walker PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Jacob Puckett
Membership MAT TERS
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DISTRICT OFFICES Caldwell Watauga Ashe Alleghany PowerLine*
TOLL FREE (828) 754-9071 (828) 264-8894 (336) 846-7138 (336) 372-4646 (800) 448-2383
(800) 451-5474
OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday Kiosks available
(PowerLine* is an automated account information and outage reporting system)
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