2011-07_MM

July 2011

Give Your Home’s Energy Use a Vacation When You’re Away Going on vacation? Even if you plan to be away just a few days, you can save energy in your home when you travel. Here are tips that can give your electric bill a break when you’re away for a few days: Water heater. Turn down the temperature, so it doesn’t have to work — and use electricity — keeping the water heated while you’re away.

Thermostat. During hot weather, turn up the thermostat temperature on your air conditioning system. That way, you’ll save energy while ensuring that your home doesn’t get too warm.

Refrigerator. Depending on food stored in your refrigerator, you may be able to turn the thermostat as high as 38 degrees without risking spoilage. Storing waterfilled bottles in your refrigerator can prevent temperature fluctuations, which will save energy. Food in the freezer compartment will stay frozen if the temperature remains at minus 5 degrees.

Lights. Turn off all lights in your home. You may want to install timers on one or two lights for security.

Electronics. Unless you’re recording something while away, unplug all of your electronic devices — computer, monitor and printer, TV and cable boxes, DVD player, microwave, and digital clocks. Any electronics with digital displays, instanton features, or remote controls will consume energy even if they’re not in use.

For other tips on how to save energy — and money — visit the GreenSmart section of BlueRidgeEMC.com or call us for a free energy efficiency tips booklet at your local Blue Ridge Electric office. Or share your vacation energy savings tips on our new energy efficiency Facebook page at Facebook.com/GreenSmart.

Carolina Country JULY 2011 21

BlueRidge-0711.indd 21

6/14/11 10:28 AM

f hie yC An Editorial b

Regulatory Overload

Ex

ec For every cause, there is an effect. The wind blows; a limb falls. Cause-andu ti ve effect relationships exist in the energy industry as well. For example, electric Offi cer Doug Johnson bills will climb if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moves forward with imposing a series of potentially crippling regulations on power plants. Some of these new rules directly result from court orders.

According to a report from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, which oversees the nation’s bulk power grid, EPA mandates affecting cooling water intake structures, coal ash disposal, interstate transport of air pollutants, and hazardous air pollutants, including mercury, could force electric utilities to retire or retrofit between 33,000 MW to 70,000 MW of generating capacity by 2015 — power that will need to be replaced in some way, and during a period of rising construction costs. Another hurdle, reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, from power plants presents an even greater challenge.

Stringent regulations in each of these targeted areas could potentially impose tens of billions of dollars of extra compliance costs onto the backs of utilities — and electric bills. For example, in June 2010, EPA proposed two possible approaches for managing coal ash and other coal combustion byproducts (CCBs) ― residues produced when coal is burned to make electricity. One, non-hazardous regulation of CCBs will ensure that coal ash is handled safely and protect not just the environment, but also jobs and consumers .

EPA’s other option ― to regulate coal ash as hazardous, a determination the agency has rejected before, the last time in 2000 ― would hit coal-fired power plant operators with staggering costs, send electric bills up, and eliminate beneficial coal ash recycling (about one-third of the fly ash created in the U.S. is used as a Portland cement replacement). The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), a non-profit utility research consortium that includes electric co-ops as members, pegs the potential price tag from a hazardous CCB designation at between $54.66 billion and $76.84 billion over a 20-year period.

Electric co-ops have been actively urging EPA through comments, testimony, and litigation to consider the negative consequences of higher electric bills in promulgating new rules. In fact, more than 10,500 comments from co-ops and their consumermembers were filed with the agency opposing regulating CCBs as hazardous.

Until EPA’s various power plant rules are finalized, the bottom line remains unknown ― cause and effect uncertain. But no matter what comes down the pike, electric cooperatives like Blue Ridge Electric are committed to working hard to provide you with safe, reliable electric power at an affordable price.

Explanation of Capital Credits Allocation on Your Bill

Your fiscal year 2010 capital credits allocation of the cooperative’s total margins is listed on your July bill. You are not receiving a refund at this time: the allocation is one of the first steps in the annual capital credits process. A refund back to members would follow next May upon a capital credits retirement as approved by your board of directors next year.

Your allocation is based on the amount of electricity you purchased last year. This amount is added to the total, ongoing capital credits account balance you have with the cooperative. Capital credits are not held as funds; instead they are either distributed to members in the form of capital credits retirements (payments) or reinvested into utility infrastructure for reliability and electricity delivery projects. This is an underlying principle of the cooperative business model and is one way we keep your electricity rates as low as possible. Capital credits are one of the benefits of belonging to a cooperative.

22 JULY 2011 Carolina Country

BlueRidge-0711.indd 22

6/9/11 10:59 AM

More News An Appalachian Summer Festival Fireworks Concert featuring:

Dierks Bentley Ticket Order Form Tickets may be ordered from ASU by phone, FAX, mail, or at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com: 1. For mail orders, cut ( ) this form out and send it along with your check, money order, VISA® or MasterCard® number to: * Tickets will be held at the box office and can be picked Farthing Auditorium Box Office up at Farthing Auditorium on the day of the concert, or they Appalachian State University can be mailed back if a self-addresed envelope is included PO Box 32057 and received by July 13.

Boone, NC 28608-2057 2. For phone orders using your VISA® or MasterCard®, call toll free: 1-800-841-2787 or (828) 262-4046 in the Boone area. Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday. Blue Ridge members: to receive your discount, have your electric account number ready.

3. FAX this order form with your VISA® or MasterCard® number to: (828) 262-2848.

4. To order tickets over the Internet, go to www.BlueRidgeEMC.com and click on “ASU Concert Tickets.”

Beeca Be cau ca use Bl use Blue uee Rid u idge gee Elec El ectr tric tr ric ic is a pr prou oud d spon sp o soor of on of thiis ev even entt, t, meemb m mber e s en er enjo jooy a $5 joy 5 disc disc di scou oun ou ntt on alll ad n adu ullt tiick ckeetts!!

Name Address City State Zip Blue Ridge Electric account number (required for discount) Phone (day) (evening) Check: (payable to ASU) Adult tickets x $27 = $ Children’s tickets x $ 5= $ Charge to my: Visa® MasterCard® (12 years & younger) Credit Card # Subtotal $ Exp. Date Handling Charge $ $2.00 Grand Total $ Signature All tickets must be purchased through ASU.

MobilePay Now Available to Blue Ridge Electric Members With our new MobilePay service at www.bremco.mobi, you’ll be able to pay your bill anywhere, anytime from your mobile device.

You’ll never have to worry about getting to our office, mailing your bill or being in front of a computer — simply pay from your mobile device. It’s secure, easy to use, and offers you the comfort of knowing you can take care of business when you want.

Like other businesses that provide this convenience option, you’ll be charged a small transaction fee of $3 per payment. You should also be aware your mobile carrier’s web access charges may apply.

Enjoy the freedom and convenience of going mobile today! You can sign up for MobilePay by visiting www.bremco.mobi on your mobile device. Or learn more and sign up online at our regular website at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com.

Carolina Country JULY 2011 23

BlueRidge-0711.indd 23

6/9/11 10:59 AM

Members Only NEWS

~For Members of Blue Ridge Electric

Handling CFLs Safely CORPORATE OFFICE PO Box 112 • Lenoir, NC 28645

The following tips are recommended for safe CFL handling:

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson

• • •

EDITOR Renée R. Whitener PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Susan Simmons DISTRICT OFFICES Caldwell (828) 754-9071 Watauga (828) 264-8894 Ashe (336) 246-7138 Alleghany (336) 372-4646 Wilkes (800) 451-5474 (800) 448-2383 PowerLine® (PowerLine® is an automated account information and outage reporting system.)

Carefully handle CFLs when removing packaging or installing them.

Hold the bulb by its base and not the glass part.

Never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket.

If a CFL breaks, follow these guidelines: • • • • •

Open a window and have all people and pets leave the room for 15 minutes.

Carefully sweep up fragments, wipe the area with a wet paper towel, and dispose of all fragments (including the used paper towel) in a sealed plastic bag.

Use duct tape to collect small glass fragments from carpet.

Don’t use a vacuum cleaner as it might stir up the remaining dust and vapor.

North Carolina residents can dispose of CFLs in their household trash.

Recycling or disposal: • • •

Recycle CFLs when they no longer work and aren’t broken.

Blue Ridge Electric has helped Caldwell, Ashe and Watauga counties set up CFL recycling programs. Contact your county for convenience center locations.

Most Lowe’s locations began accepting CFLs for recycling earlier this year.

Toll Free 1 (800) 451-5474 (for members outside 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: www.BlueRidgeEMC.com

Energy Tip of the Month Consider using solar lights for outdoor lighting. Solar cells convert sunlight into electricity that can be stored in a battery and tapped at night to make light. Check manufacturers’ instructions to make sure your solar lights are situated to receive sufficient sunlight to recharge each day.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

24 JULY 2011 Carolina Country

BlueRidge-0711.indd 24

6/9/11 10:59 AM