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A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM BLUE RIDGE ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION

matters MEMBERSHIP

DECEMBER 2013

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Steps to restoring power Whether we’re building a new substation, replacing power poles, or trimming trees too close to power lines, Blue Ridge Electric works every day to keep your power reliable. No matter how well we maintain our electric system, severe weather sometimes harms power poles and lines, leading to outages.

Trees falling on power lines are the major cause of outages.

That’s why we have a right-of-way maintenance program to protect over 8,000 miles of power lines serving the cooperative’s 74,000 members.

Restoring power after a major outage involves much more than simply throwing a switch or removing a tree from a line. The main goal is to restore power safely — for members and line technicians — in the shortest amount of time possible.

Our outage response plan is based on the following priorities: Step 1: Transmission structures and lines that supply power to one or more transmission substations are restored first. These main delivery lines receive first priority because they serve tens

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of thousands of people.

Step 2: Restored next are distribution substations, which “step down” or reduce voltage from transmission lines so it can be distributed to thousands of members.

Step 3: Main distribution supply lines are restored next if the problem cannot be found at earlier check points. These are the lines on power poles along roads.

Step 4: The final power supply lines, called “tap lines,” are restored next if needed. These lines “tap off ” the main distribution lines.

Step 5: Damage can also occur on the service line leading from the transformer pole into your home. This can explain why your neighbors have power and you don’t.

Please report outages at any time by calling our automated PowerLine at 1-800-448-2383.

11/12/13 9:00 AM

the

perspective From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson

Electricity: good value for the money Could you live without your refrigerator? What about your TV or DVR? Would you give up your computer or cell phone? According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the average household owns 24 consumer electronic products — and that’s in addition to lighting and household appliances.

If we’re honest, most of us wouldn’t be able to do without these basic necessities and other modern conveniences we’ve become accustomed to in our daily lives.

Electricity is an invaluable part of our lives and it’s a critical component for business and industry. It is reliable and readily available. In fact, most of us rarely give electricity a second thought — we simply trust that it will be there when we need it whether we’re taking a hot shower, turning on our computers, or flipping on a light. As a result, we often take the good value of electricity for granted.

While there’s no denying the cost of electricity has risen over time, it’s important to understand that electricity remains one of the best bargains around, especially when compared to other goods and services. For example, think of the cost of a gallon of gasoline 30 years ago — or even 10 years ago — compared to today’s prices. How about groceries, prescription medication, or the cars we drive? Or consider the cost to stay connected today. Who knew we would depend so heavily on cell phones, computers, and the Internet just a few years ago?

While no one likes the fact that costs are rising, it helps to understand that electricity has remained a good value over time. This is true even with demand for electricity at historically high levels, expensive investments being made to keep electricity reliably flowing, and a growing number of environmental compliance regulations driving up costs for utilities all across around the nation.

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While demand for electricity is slowing due in part to energy efficiency efforts, demand is still growing. In fact, the U.S. Dept. of Energy predicts demand for electricity will increase 28 percent by 2040. To keep up with demand, utilities must spend millions of dollars to keep electricity reliable and plentiful by building power generation plants, substations, transmission and distribution power lines and the communications network linking systems together.

Blue Ridge Electric has been able to keep electricity reliable and our rates stable through an aggressive cost saving program and securing the best wholesale power prices available in the marketplace. Our last rate adjustment of an additional 2.5 percent was implemented in October and based on Duke’s wholesale power cost forecast, an annual adjustment around this amount may be needed annually for the next few years. This is much lower, however, than the increases we see coming from many other utilities.

When you think about all the necessities, comforts and conveniences made possible with your electricity from Blue Ridge Electric, we hope you agree it’s a good value in today’s world. For our average member using about 900 kilowatt hours monthly, the daily cost is around $3.50. For most of us, each day that will cook at least two family meals, warm and light our home, heat the water for baths and showers, and wash and dry our clothes. It even powers television, gaming, and computers!

The employee team at Blue Ridge is proud to provide you with reliable electric service, delivered with personal touch member care at the lowest possible cost. Our members are our friends and neighbors and we share the same communities — that’s the cooperative spirit behind Blue Ridge Electric. And it’s the real power behind providing good value with your electricity.

MEMBERSHIP matters

11/12/13 9:00 AM

M C

Blu the me • • •

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First steps in director elections

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bers reviews and nominates qualified candidates to run for all open seats on the board of directors in the upcoming election. They may not be employees, agents, officers, directors, close relatives, or known candidates to become directors. The makeup of the committee reflects an equal number of members from each district, in addition to one representative from the membership-atlarge who must be of the minority membership and may be a resident of any district.

Credentials & Election Committee Made up of members from across the cooperative’s service area, this committee ensures director elections are conducted in compliance with Blue Ridge Electric’s Bylaws. Responsibilities include: selection of a professional election administration firm, review of petition candidate qualifications, approval of proxy and ballot forms, and validation of all proxies and ballots.

The board appointed the following committee members: Caldwell district: Elaine Setzer-Maxwell, Kathy Starnes, Janet Winkler and alternates Lynn Pennell and Joe Sims; Watauga district: Mark Baumgardner, Becka Saunders and alternates Farrell Sheppard and Lawrence Caviness; Ashe district: James Young, Terry Williams and alternates Jeanne Coward and Ellen Church; Alleghany district: Clarence Crouse, Roger Schweickert and alternates Dennis Gambill and George White.

Members of your board of directors (who are not up for re-election next year) appointed the following C&E members: Caldwell district: Monteen German, and alternates Cora Jones and Ron Kiziah; Watauga district: Jan Ellison and alternates Angie Miller and Gerry Staninger; Ashe district: Ralph Jones and alternates J.E. Blevins and David Price; and Alleghany district: Greg Bare, Jane Phipps-Boger and alternates Ken Richardson and Warren Taylor.

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Members have the opportunity to vote for their board of directors each June. To keep you informed of election governance processes that take place throughout the year, your cooperative updates you in this newsletter. Two of the first steps in the director election process include appointing a Nominating Committee and a Credentials and Election (C&E) Committee. The board appointed these committees for one-year terms at their October board meeting.

Nominating Committee This committee of nine cooperative mem-

Candidates nominated by this committee as well as candidates running by petition will be posted in each Blue Ridge Electric office and on the website. Information about all candidates will be included in director election information mailed or emailed to all members in early May. Information will also be provided in Carolina Country magazine sent to all members.

(See “Director elections” on page 24)

More businesses join the Co-op Connections® Card Program Blue Ridge Electric welcomes three more local businesses to the Co-op Connections® Card family and encourages our members to shop locally and support these businesses.

• • •

Bandana’s Bar-B-Que & Grill — Boone, NC Edge of the World (whitewater rafting/kayaking, rock climbing/rappelling) — Banner Elk, NC Pistol Pete’s Sandwich Shop — Lenoir, NC

MEMBERSHIP matters

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For a complete list of participating local businesses and national offers, go to the “Residential” tab at BlueRidgeEMC.com > Member Benefits > Co-op Connections Card. See how this card can save you money while you support our local economy! *Misplaced your card? Contact your local Blue Ridge Electric office for a replacement.

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Director elections (continued from page 23) Director Candidate Nominee Options Members wishing to be considered as a director candidate nominee have two options: the Nominating Committee process or the nomination by petition process. Interested members must complete and submit a director application packet by contacting Julie O’Dell-Michie, chief administrative officer. All application information is due by March 3 when going through the Nominating Committee process and by April 1 for those seeking nomination by petition. Nominations by petition must include signatures of 15 or more members with each signature in the name that appears on their electric service bill.

For a complete list of qualifications to serve as a director of Blue Ridge Electric, please refer to the cooperative’s Bylaws available at any Blue Ridge Electric office or online at BlueRidgeEMC.com.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

WATER HEATING

Doug Johnson

#4

EDITOR

Renée R. Whitener

PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Susan Simmons

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 number listed above.

OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday Night deposit available.

Drain 1-2 gallons from the bottom of your water heater each year to reduce sediment build up.

Find out how the little changes add up at BlueRidgeEMC.com > GreenSmart.

Source: 101 Easy Ways to Save Energy and Money

Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEMC.com

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MEMBERSHIP matters

11/12/13 9:00 AM