2018-12-BRE MM

A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM BLUE RIDGE ENERGY

matters MEMBERSHIP

DECEMBER 2018

Did you know...you can set up alerts to send yourself an email, text or voice mail if your daily electricity usage goes above an amount that you set?

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.”

Sign up for Usage Tracker by logging into “My Account” on our website or through our mobile app and see your daily electricity usage.

You can also see the daily weather temperatures to help you understand the effect weather can have on your electric bill.

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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 or through our Blue Ridge mobile app.

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From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson

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Honoring Kenneth Greene Many of us talk about leaving a legacy by making a difference in the world. When I think about our recently retired Board President Kenny Greene, I’m reminded of the best legacy anyone can aspire to: making those around you feel appreciated and valued every single day.

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themselves. During Kenny’s tenure, your cooperative expanded to include two wholly owned subsidiary companies formed to help hold down rates for members while providing local jobs and services that improve quality of life in our communities. Your cooperative has also held down costs for members while providing nationally ranked member satisfaction and reliability of electric service. Many other milestones were also achieved.

Before I tell you about Kenny’s most special gift, let me tell you about his work ethic and dedication to his responsibility on the cooperative’s Board of Directors. Kenny recently Kenny worked hard in his role on the retired after 30 years of service on Board. What made him special was the Board, serving the past 11 years the love and appreciation he showed as President. During that time, he to each and every person he encounspent many hours staying updated tered. As President, whenever his path in areas critical to providing Board crossed with employees, he never oversight for an electric utility with failed to stop and show appreciation two subsidiary companies: regulatory or share words of encouragement! and legislative issues; operations, safety, finance, power transmission I heard Kenny described recently as a KENNETH GREENE and delivery, technology, human “genuine gentleman.” Kenny not only resources, strategic planning, customer service, commade employees feel special, he did the same for the munity relations and more! members he represented and anyone who was fortunate enough to be in his presence.

He led the cooperative’s Board with a depth of sound judgment and a commitment to community and the As Kenny enters this next chapter in his life, he leaves members. He believed in working as a team with his this cooperative in good hands. He’s also left a genufellow Board members, all of whom have the memine legacy we’re inspired to carry on in his honor! bers’ best interests at heart because they are members

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MEMBERSHIP matters

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Bylaws, Service Rules & Regulations Updated At their regular board meeting held on September 27, 2018, Blue Ridge Electric’s Board of Directors approved updates in the following sections of the Cooperative's Bylaws and Service Rules and Regulations.

7.04 Patronage Capital from Associated Organizations

Redline versions indicating changes as well as final documents are available online at BlueRidgeEnergy.com > Company > Corporate Documents. Hard copies are also available in any Blue Ridge Energy district office.

7.06 Interest in Separate Business Entities

The Bylaws were modernized to reflect more current, clearer language. A new copy of the Bylaws is polybagged with this issue of Carolina Country and has been sent to every member. Changes to our Service Rules and Regulations were minimal.

Bylaws ARTICLE I MEMBERSHIP 1.01 Eligibility and Requirements for Membership (b) (e) 1.06 Excess Payments to be Credited as MemberFurnished Capital 1.11 Non-Liability for Debts of Cooperative ARTICLE III DIRECTORS 3.02 Qualifications ARTICLE VII NONPROFIT OPERATION AND CAPITAL 7.01 Definitions

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7.02 Interest on Capital Prohibited

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7.03 Patronage Capital in Connection with Furnishing Electric Energy

7.05 Patronage Capital in Connection with Furnishing Other Goods or Services

7.07 Net Earnings from Non-Patronage Business 7.08 Net Savings 7.09 Reasonable Reserves 7.10 Patron Agreement ARTICLE VIII WAIVER OF NOTICE 9.02 Merger or Consolidation

Service Rules and Regulations Part II - 406 Methods of Payment Members may receive without charge, a copy of billing information for the past twenty-four months which can be obtained online at BlueRidgeEnergy.com.

Part III - 505 Methods of Payment The Cooperative will accept VISA®, MasterCard®, American Express® or Discover® cards for payment of electric goods, products, services, etc., up to a limit of $5,000 per member per month.

APPENDIX A - Schedule of Fees and Charges Associated to Electric Service - 208 Allowance for Line Relocation for New Residence or Major Renovation $4,200 maximum allowance + $125.00 engineering fee

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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 Energy identification.

MEMBERSHIP matters

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First steps in director elections

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, Monday-Friday Kiosk available 24/7 + Night deposit Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEnergy.com +

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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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 Credentials and Election (C&E) Committee and a Nominating Committee. The Board appointed these committees for one-year terms at their October meeting.

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.

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 appointed the following committee members: Caldwell district: Jason Carpenter, Karen Isbell and alternates Robert Marshall and Patricia Hollar; Watauga district: Curtis Main, Richard Clark and Junior Gragg and alternates Ray Reid and Nick Lyons; Ashe district: Jim Parsons and Bill Burkett and alternates Susan Hoosier and Glen Mast; and Alleghany district: Jim Cot and Tom Smith and alternates Ricky Brown and Kaye Royall.

The Board of Directors appointed the following committee members: Caldwell district: Maureen Collins and Ron Kiziah and alternates Scott King and Wanda Prince; Watauga district: Grant Mastin and alternates Angie Gregg and Bob Hrozencik; Ashe district: David Isner and alternates Marty Norris and Glenna Wilcox; Alleghany district: Linnea Miller and alternates Jim Smith and Debbie Edwards.

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’Dell at jodell@blueridgeenergy.com or (828) 759-8902 to request a director application packet.

MEMBERSHIP matters

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