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A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM BLUE RIDGE ENERGY
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SEPTEMBER 2017
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Is an electric vehicle right for you? Would you give up your Ford F-150 if you could save $300 a month on gasoline, enjoy more time with the people you love, and indulge your passion? That’s exactly what Jason Smith did! This summer, he traded his truck for an all-electric Nissan Leaf.
Jason Smith, senior communications analyst using Caldwell district’s Level 3 EV charging station
“I wouldn’t switch back,” said Smith, who works as senior communications analyst for Blue Ridge Energy and formerly ran an alternative energy company.
“My little girl is 13 and this technology is evolving in her lifetime. I wanted to show her this is a viable option and how to use this technology for a better future,” said Smith, noting that electric vehicles (EV) like his Leaf have zero emissions. “I also like experimenting with new technology,” he added.
Savings and lifestyle are also benefits. In addition to gas savings, EVs have fewer parts than a traditional vehicle so they’re lower maintenance. Early adopters are even enjoying tax credits of up to $10,000 or more! Many like the convenience of charging overnight at home. For long trips, EV owners see charging stations rapidly increasing. They include Blue Ridge Energy’s new Level 3 EV charging station at the Caldwell district office featuring the fastest charger on the market. Charging stations are easy to find with apps such as ChargePoint or PlugShare. “My Leaf even came with a navigation system that shows charging stations along any route I’m driving,” Smith said. “It’s no different than stopping to get gas — except now we charge while shopping, eating dinner or tossing a football,” said Smith. In fact, towns such as Blowing Rock and West Jefferson are capitalizing on the trend with their own EV charging stations with the help of utility grant funds that Blue Ridge Energy helped secure. “A lot of people don’t know they want an electric vehicle until they use one,” Smith concluded.
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perspective Making life better
Making life better for the people we serve is more than a slogan – it’s how we approach every decision, every plan and every employee’s daily work here at Blue Ridge. Our Powerful Solutions effort was created out of this desire. Members now have more options available from Blue Ridge Energy to help lower their energy bills, participate in renewable energy, lower or finance the cost of making homes more comfortable and energy efficient, and other helpful home programs.
Multiple factors are behind the growing adoption of electric vehicles: many like the environmental benefits and doing their part to support cleaner transportation; maintenance costs can be lower due to fewer moving parts than gasoline-powered vehicles; and others like the new technology and lifestyle they represent.
Photo by Todd Bush
From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson
Why would your electric cooperative be involved? Doing our part for a smarter, cleaner environment is one way Blue Ridge Energy is making life better for our members. But supporting electric vehicle growth by helping provide charging stations can also help keep your rates down. How?
The newest Powerful Solutions program is a network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations! The fastest EV charger on the Charging vehicles during market is now available at our off-peak periods can help Caldwell District’s new Level 3 EV charging station manage your cooperative’s load new Caldwell district office, conveniently located just off Blowdemands, which in turn helps ing Rock Blvd. for those traveling through Lenoir to reduce the cost we pay for wholesale power. And that the mountains. The Level 3/DC Fast Charger can fully benefits members. Wholesale power we distribute to power a vehicle in 30 minutes! members is the largest expense of your cooperative. Anything that helps lower and control wholesale power Additionally, your cooperative helped secure funding cost will benefit members with more stable rates for for Level 2 EV charging stations in Blowing Rock and years to come. As electric vehicles grow in popularity, West Jefferson. the value this can have for members and your cooperative can be significant. As electric vehicles become more affordable due to Your cooperative is always looking to the future to find federal tax credits and manufacturer rebates, consumers are seeing the value — including in our service area. new, innovative ways to hold down your rates while (Be sure to read the article in this newsletter about a providing clean, affordable, reliable electricity. We hope Blue Ridge employee who recently made the switch!) you agree: life is better in the Blue Ridge area! Page 22
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For the best service . . . Please contact us any time you change your telephone number, e-mail or mailing address. This helps us provide you with the best member service experience, especially during outages or when you need us. It also ensures timely delivery of important items such as your capital credits refund!
Renewable energy charge decreasing The NC REPS charge on your bill will decrease beginning on September bills. This charge is for the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard law passed by the 2007 North Carolina General Assembly. It requires all utilities to generate and distribute more electricity from renewable resources and to encourage energy efficiency by their consumers.
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Do you have money waiting?
This year, members will see the following monthly changes starting on September bills: the residential fee will move from $1.08 to 79 cents; the commercial fee will move from $4.72 to $3.47; and the industrial fee will move from: $32.28 to $23.34.
To help our members or former members receive refunds due to them through the cooperative’s capital credits retirements, all unclaimed capital credits are listed on our website. Visit BlueRidgeEnergy.com and click the “Residential” tab. Click the “Money Back to You! Capital Credits” area and scroll to the bottom of the page for the Unclaimed Capital Credits link.
As your cooperative coordinates with our wholesale power supplier for cleaner energy, we are currently on target to have 10 percent of our wholesale power generated from renewable resources by the end of 2017.
Unclaimed capital credits are funds waiting for those whose capital credits checks were returned to us as “undeliverable” by the post office. This is an important reason to always contact us any time your address changes. If you are on the list, please contact us, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Proof of identity will be necessary to receive the refunds.
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Converting rights-of-way to wildlife habitats
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson
Enhancing the natural beauty of western Members qualify for funds only if they contact Blue Ridge Energy’s vegetation North Carolina while ensuring relimanagement staff able electricity in advance and for members is receive approval behind a Blue from the coopRidge Energy erative prior to offer: funding the start of the to help convert project. rights-of-way (ROW) to wildPrograms like life habitats. this not only benefit the Up to $500 per environment acre is available and improve to members who appearance, they have cooperative ROW on their also help ensure reliable electricity property in for members and give linemen a safe wooded or other qualifying areas. The pathway when working on power lines. funds are to help offset costs the member would incur to remove trees and plant certain types of grass, low-growing Visit BlueRidgeEnergy.com and shrubs and vegetation to attract wildlife click on the “Resources” tab for more information. such as rabbits, turkeys, birds and deer.
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EDITOR
Renée R. Whitener
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Susan Simmons
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