A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM BLUE RIDGE ENERGY
matters MEMBERSHIP
Photo by Todd Bush
February 2017
Temporary rate reduction continues through March Members are receiving savings through a temporary rate reduction that began in 2014 and continues through March 2017. Rates will return to 2013 levels after March.
costs during this period did not occur. One factor was the effect lower electric generation fuels prices have had on the market. Another factor was reduced operating costs achieved by the cooperative.
On January, February and March bills in 2017, members will receive a savings of $9 per 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity used, which is the typical monthly usage of a Blue Ridge residential member.
Member rates are expected to remain stable until 2018 with only modest increases for later years forecasted in our wholesale power cost.
Member savings will total $26.8 million from the temporary rate reduction implemented over the past three years and into 2017. “As a cooperative, we’re not in business to make a profit — we’re here to provide service at the lowest possible cost to our members,” said Blue Ridge Energy Chief Executive Officer Doug Johnson. Blue Ridge was able to provide members the rate reduction after industry forecasts for rising wholesale power
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