A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM BLUE RIDGE ENERGY
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DECEMBER 2017
Did you know...studies show that a smart thermostat that learns your behavior, like a Nest or Ecobee, will save enough energy to pay for itself in as little as two years?
Can a thermostat really help lower energy costs? The right thermostat can help you control energy costs! If you’ve ever had a traditional thermostat, you know you have to manually set the temperature. On cold winter mornings or evenings, this can lead to higher bills if you’re suddenly moving the temperature up more than two degrees. That’s when your expensive, back-up heat comes on to try to quickly heat up your home! Replacing a traditional thermostat can be worth it if you want to lower energy costs and enjoy a comfortable temperature in your home. One option is a programmable thermostat. Once programmed to fit your schedule, they gradually adjust to the right temperatures for sleeping, waking, and times when you are at home or away. The challenge for most people is remembering to program the thermostats - or change the programming when home schedules change.
The best option for most people is a smart thermostat that does everything for you! Instead of relying on manual programming, a smart or “learning” thermostat starts with a base setting of 68ºF for heating and 75ºF for cooling and then learns the desired indoor temperature based on how the user interacts with the device. This process occurs automatically over a period of weeks as you make changes to the smart thermostat. It can even tell if you’re home through motion detectors or by linking to your mobile device. It’s important to note they require a home Wi-Fi network to operate and this also allows you to control your thermostat remotely from your phone, tablet or computer. Another benefit of smart thermostats is they eliminate unnecessary heating and cooling. That not only reduces wasted energy, it benefits you with lower energy bills and a more comfortable home!
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perspective From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson
Why do we help members use LESS electricity? That’s a question we often get, especially now that we offer more programs and tools than ever to help you track and reduce your energy usage, get rebates or loans for home energy efficiency improvements and even go solar! The short answer is: we’re your cooperative! That means our purpose is bigger than simply selling electricity. We’re owned by our members, so our only goal is to do what’s best for you. Helping you be energy efficient and reduce costs is one way we help our members.
energy efficient Energy Star® model. These also apply for weatherization options such as home air or duct sealing or even building an Energy Star® home! While our four community solar gardens are now completely subscribed, we’re looking forward to building more! Member participation has been tremendous for this option of affordable renewable energy without the expense or maintenance of rooftop solar.
We’re also providing information on electric vehicles (EV) because we see a growing trend That’s why we developed in adoption. To benefit our Powerful Solutions members, we’ve installed programs. This growa DC Fast Charger at To learn more about these programs, go to ing family of programs our Caldwell District BlueRidgeEnergy.com > Solutions. includes staff energy office and helped secure advisors, energy options, and support for improving your grant funds for EV chargers in Blowing Rock and home’s comfort while reducing energy usage and costs. West Jefferson! Our Energy SAVER loans are a great example. These make energy efficiency investments like replacing a heat pump or adding insulation easier, while also helping lower your monthly energy bill and improving your home’s comfort. Our Smart Rebates can give you a credit on your bill when you buy or replace certain appliances with an
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Finally, we’ve also partnered with other companies, like Utility Shield and Filter Easy, to offer programs for convenience and added protection for homeowners. I hope you’ll take time to check out the Powerful Solutions programs that can benefit you! We’re pleased they’re helping many members enjoy a more comfortable and affordable home environment!
MEMBERSHIP matters
11/9/17 9:45 AM
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First steps in director elections 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 Credentials and Election (C&E) Committee and a Nominating Committee. The Board appointed these committees for oneyear terms at their October meeting. 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 Membership Corporation's Bylaws. Responsibilities include: selection of a professional election administration firm, review of petition candidate qualifications, approval of proxy and ballot forms, validation of all proxies and ballots, and certification of election results.
The Board of Directors appointed the following committee members: Caldwell district: Keith Money and alternates Jack DeRancy and Ron Kiziah; Watauga district: Richard Clark and alternates Angie Miller and Grant Mastin; Ashe district: Marty Norris and alternates Glenna Wilcox and Judson (J.E.) Blevins; Alleghany district: Cindy Atwood and Steve Mason and alternates Linnea Miller and Jim Connor.
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The Board appointed the following committee members: Caldwell district: Jason Carpenter, Jackie Bradshaw, and Scott King and alternates Karen Isbell and Maureen Collins; Watauga district: Ray Reid and Junior Gragg and alternates Bob Hrozencik and Curtis Main; Ashe district: Melanie Miller and James Young and alternates Cindy Price and Johnny Seagraves; and Alleghany district: Kathryn Abernathy and Tom Smith and alternates Charles Rudy and Jim Cox. Candidates nominated by this committee as well as candidates running by petition will be posted in each Blue Ridge Energy district 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.
*Any member interested in becoming a candidate for the Board of Directors should contact Julie O’DellMichie at jmichie@blueridgeenergy.com or (828) 759-8902 to request a director application packet.
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Nominating Committee This committee of nine cooperative members 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 any district.
Meter service inspections While automated meters are greatly reducing the need to be on a member’s property, we must still periodically check our equipment and perform maintenance. Blue Ridge Energy's electric staff or a contractor authorized by the cooperative conducts periodic inspections of service facilities. This inspection is in accordance with the requirements of the National Electrical Safety Code and helps ensure our members receive reliable electric service from Blue Ridge Energy. As a safety precaution, members should be aware that authorized contractors and their vehicles have official Blue Ridge Electric (or soon, Blue Ridge Energy) identification.
MEMBERSHIP matters
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Save on holiday costs with Usage Tracker This time of year can bring good times, with family and guests enjoying more time in the warmth of your home, cooking, enjoying holiday lights, and all the things that make the holidays special! But it also means your household is using more energy, which increases energy bills. You can get a handle on energy usage and costs with a free tool from Blue Ridge Energy called Usage Tracker.
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) 846-7138 Alleghany (336) 372-4646 Wilkes (800) 451-5474 PowerLine® (800) 448-2383 (PowerLine® is an automated account information and outage reporting system.) Toll Free
(800) 451-5474
(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, MondayFriday Kiosk available 24/7 + Night deposit Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEnergy.com +
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Page 24
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Once you sign up for Usage Tracker by logging into “My Account” on our website, you can see your daily electricity usage. You can also see the daily weather temperatures to help you understand the effect weather can have on your power bill. Usage Tracker makes it easy: you can even set up alerts to send yourself an email, text or voice mail if your daily electricity usage goes above an amount that you set. This is very helpful in getting ahead of high bills! When you get notified that your usage is higher than normal, you can take steps to lower or manage your usage so that you control your bill amount! Knowledge is power - and knowing the amount of electricity you and your family use on a daily basis is a powerful tool when it comes to controlling your costs. While Usage Tracker doesn’t know “how” you used electricity, it does show patterns. And surveys show that when people monitor their daily usage, they tend to take steps to reduce usage by 5 to 15 percent. Let us help you manage your electricity costs — during the holidays or any time of year! Sign up for Usage Tracker today for powerful information that can help you understand and control your usage before winter takes a toll on your pocketbook. Sign up at BlueRidgeEnergy.com > MyAccount.
Immediately
NEVER give out
personal, financial or electric account information if someone contacts you demanding payment.
Always report
suspicious calls to law enforcement authorities in addition to us.
call Blue Ridge Energy. Someone is always available to check your account status.
Call 1-800-451-5474 MEMBERSHIP matters
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