2016 03 bre mm

matters MEMBERSHIP

A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM BLUE RIDGE ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION

March 2016 All members who sign up for the emailed Director Election Kit are eligible!

Easier than ever

It’s now easier than ever to vote for and get information about your cooperative’s Board of Director elections.

Sign up now at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com/Elections to receive the director election information kit by email with a link to vote online, and be entered to win an Internet-ready Smart TV!

contains the same information included in the paper version of the kit.

Director election kits, including biographical information about candidates, will be emailed on May 18. That same day, paper versions of the kit will be mailed to all other members who have not signed up for the email version.

Won’t you join the thousands of members already receiving the kit and voting online? All you have to do is go to BlueRidgeEMC.com/Elections. Or simply look for the Director Elections button on the home page of BlueRidgeEMC.com. Fill in your name, email, phone number and Blue Ridge Electric account number to validate your membership and you’re done! All members signed up to receive the director election kit by email are automatically entered in the drawing for a TV!

In surveys, the vast majority of members say they prefer to vote online. Receiving the director election kit by email makes it easier than ever to do so since it includes the link to vote online. The kit received by email

WIN a Smart LED TV

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Furthermore, receiving the kit by email and voting online helps hold down costs, which in turn also benefits members.

You’re automatically entered when you sign up at BlueRidgeEMC.com/Elections to have the Director Elections kit emailed to you!

2/10/16 4:34 PM

the

perspective From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson

Good value for your membership Keeping your bill as low as possible is key to providing good value to our members of Blue Ridge Electric. I want to share three ways we’re working to achieve this.

The wholesale electricity that we purchase to power our members’ homes and businesses makes up the largest portion — 60 percent — of your monthly electric bill. This is the area where your cooperative can make the biggest impact on controlling your electricity costs.

Another cost-saving effort is our WorkSmart initiative. Since 2009, employees have identified and implemented efficiency ideas to reduce or avoid operating costs totaling more than $19 million that members would otherwise had to cover. I commend our employees because in an organization that already operates leanly, these ideas required collaboration and effort so that excellent member service and reliability were maintained at national top quartile levels.

Since 2004, we have been independently managing our wholesale power agreement with Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC. By managing this contract within our senior executive team, we have achieved significant savings for our memMembers are benefiting from a bers. In fact, for the first time in our FULL YEAR temporary rate reduction history, we are able to give memmade possible by lower wholesale bers a 12-month rate reduction, power costs. currently in effect through December! That’s in addition to annual three-month rate reductions Member bills are reduced $18 for each 1,000 kwh of electricity used monthly, the previous two years that have which is the amount used by the come when they can help members average residential member. That’s the most: during winter months equal to a 15 percent rate reduction! when bills are highest.

The prior years’ temporary rate reductions helped members avoid paying over $6 million. The 2016 temporary rate reduction will produce more than $20 million in member bill savings, which is about 15 percent less for the average residential member.

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Another innovative way we’re keeping members’ bills low is through our two subsidiaries that produce revenue used directly to offset rising costs. Our heating fuels and propane subsidiary, Blue Ridge Energies, and our businessto-business dark fiber leasing subsidiary, RidgeLink, were created to benefit members while filling service needs — and providing jobs — in our area. Together these two companies provided almost $3.7 million net benefit to the cooperative in 2015!

As a cooperative, we exist to provide the members we serve with good value and to make life better. Successful results in these three key areas are going a long way toward achieving our purpose and in keeping your bill more affordable.

MEMBERSHIP matters

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Director Proxy Committee to be appointed As part of the director election governance process giving members an option to vote for cooperative directors by Internet or mail, a Director Proxy Committee will be appointed by the Board of Directors at their regular February board meeting.

Annual Meeting in order to vote for directors due to convenient options to vote by Internet or mail. However, members who have not voted, or who voted by Internet or mail but wish to change their vote, must attend the Annual Meeting in order to do so.

This committee will be made up of three directors whose terms are not expiring and who are not running for re-election this year to the Board of Directors.

The names of the Director Proxy Committee will appear on the proxy forms contained in the director election and Annual Meeting notice kits sent to members and online at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com and will be available for viewing on Friday, February 26, 2016.

The Proxy Committee serves multiple roles for the membership. First, the Committee will cast votes for members designating their preferences selected on submitted electronic or paper proxy forms. Secondly, the Committee will serve as a proxy for any member wishing to assign his vote for director elections to the Committee. Lastly, the Committee will cast votes for members who do not make a choice on voting options.

Director election kits will be mailed or sent by email to members who have requested to receive this information electronically on May 18, 2016. The notice of Annual Meeting along with information about Board candidates will be part of the director election kit. Members are no longer required to attend the

Historic temporary

RATE REDUCTION As approved by the Board of Directors, members will now benefit from a full year of a temporary rate reduction made possible by lower wholesale power costs primarily driven by historically low natural gas prices.

Member bills are being reduced by $18 for each 1,000 kwh (kilowatt hours) of electricity used monthly (the amount used by the average residential member).

That’s equal to a 15 percent rate reduction for the typical residential member.

As a not-for-profit cooperative, Blue Ridge Electric returns any excess funds to its members and is pleased to be able to pass along these savings.

MEMBERSHIP matters

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Members wishing to be considered for nomination to serve on the Board of Directors have two options: the Nominating Committee or nomination by petition. Interested members must first submit a director application packet which is available by contacting Julie O’Dell-Michie, Chief Administrative Officer for Blue Ridge Electric, at jmichie@blueridgeemc.com or at 1-800-451-5474, extension 3202. The packet is due by 5 p.m., March 1, when using the Nominating Committee process or by 5 p.m., April 1, when using the Nomination by Petition process. For a complete list of qualifications and requirements to serve as a director of the cooperative, please refer to the cooperative’s Bylaws available at BlueRidgeEMC.com or by contacting any Blue Ridge Electric office.

Connect with Chat Did you know you can go online and “Chat” immediately with a member service representative? Chat is available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday thru Friday excluding holidays.

Just go to BlueRidgeEMC.com and click the "Chat" button at the top of the page!

And if you prefer to do business in Spanish, no problem. Choose your language of choice and you will be connected with one of our Spanish speaking representatives.

Online “Chat” — one of the fastest ways to connect at Blue Ridge Electric.

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This is the third in a series of articles discussing vegetation management.

Vegetation management balances reliability with scenic beauty Keeping the path of power lines free of large trees and brush helps our members enjoy reliable electricity. It also provides a safe working environment for our line technicians.

Vegetation must be continually managed in rights-of-ways in order to deliver safe, reliable electricity to our members. That’s why your cooperative uses a combination approach to right-of-way maintenance that includes selective herbicide. Early in the process, trees and large growth that threaten reliability are either removed with mechanical trimmers or trimmed by hand. The following summer, crews use a backpack applicator to apply environmentally CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson

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 numbers listed above.

OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday Kiosk available 24/7 + Night deposit Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEMC.com +

safe herbicide targeted to vegetation that could grow into power lines. This herbicide allows lowgrowing vegetation to thrive.

environment with electric reliability and member satisfaction.

This low-volume, manual method of vegetation management helps protect the natural habitat of the many plants and wildlife in our area. These practices are endorsed by several key animal and plant organizations such as the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources, The National Wild Turkey Federation, Ruffed Grouse Society, Buckmasters and the National Butterfly Association.

Because we respect your property, member notification is an important part of our vegetation management plan.

Planned maintenance that requires us to be on a member’s property begins with a phone call to give members advance notice. If we cannot reach a member by phone after several attempts, a postcard is mailed. This process ensures members have the opportunity to learn more about the maintenance project and the need to be on their property.

A certified arborist manages our vegetation management program to ensure a balance of care for the

Meter service inspections on your property While automated meters are greatly reducing the need to be on members’ properties, it is necessary to periodically check cooperative equipment and perform maintenance to ensure reliable electricity.

These inspections are required by the National Electrical Safety Code.

Blue Ridge Electric, or a contractor authorized by the cooperative, conducts regular inspections of service facilities. Please be aware all authorized contractors and their vehicles will have official Blue Ridge Electric identification.

If you ever have doubt about someone on your property, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly at 1-800-451-5474 for confirmation.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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MEMBERSHIP matters

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