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matters MEMBERSHIP

A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM BLUE RIDGE ENERGY

May 2019

Capital credits refunds coming in May! Money is coming back to members this May thanks to a capital credits retirement of more than $5 million approved by your Board of Directors!

Checks begin mailing on May 6, so be sure to check your mailbox! Members qualifying for a $35 or more refund will be mailed a check

After being used for a period of years as capital to help finance reliability projects, these funds are returned to members.

This process helps reduce the need for loans, which, in turn, helps keep your Checks begin mailing May 6 for members electricity rates lower. It also helps qualifying for a refund of $35 or more. maintain a healthy balance between debt and equity to ensure your coopThose qualifying for less will see it as a credit applied to their electric account in May. erative’s financial health and stability. separate from their electric bill. Those qualifying for less will see it as a credit to their electric account in May. Members new to the cooperative as of 2019 will be eligible for capital credit refunds beginning next year.

The percentage of equity to be retired and refunded to members is determined annually by your Board of Directors based on your cooperative’s financial condition. This year, the percentage is three percent.

As a cooperative, Blue Ridge Energy doesn’t earn profits. Instead, revenues remaining after all expenses are paid each year are considered “margins.” Margins are allocated annually to members and reflect your member equity (ownership) in the cooperative.

Over the history of Blue Ridge Energy, more than $69 million has been returned to members.

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perspective From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson

Blue Ridge crew helps “light up” Laphia, Bolivia Electric cooperatives were created in the 1930s to bring electricity to places other utilities wouldn’t serve. Today, we’re still working to light up the dark corners of the world!

I’m proud to say that three Blue Ridge Energy line technicians are part of a North Carolina team who are helping bring electricity to the small Bolivian village of Laphia. Thirteen linemen from seven NC co-ops have volunteered to build five miles of power lines to connect the community, including 68 buildings and a school, to the power grid.

According to village leaders, electricity will create new economic and educational opportunities for the 120 residents of this rural agricultural community and help its younger members remain in the village rather than move to l arger cities.

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honor are: Eddie Stephens, Watauga crew leader who was also chosen as crew leader for the entire NC team; Jerry Gregg, Caldwell line tech A; and Faron Atwood, Alleghany crew leader, who will serve as alternate in case a NC crew member cannot attend. The volunteers will stay in modest lodging with running water for the 2½-week trip.

This collaboration, known as the Brighter World Electrification Initiative, is an effort by all 26 electric cooperatives in North Carolina under the BRIGHTER WORLD broader initiative INITIATIVE of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association International.

This organization has brought Photos (top to bottom): electricity to more Blue Ridge volunteers Eddie Stephens, Jerry Gregg, and Faron Atwood; than 160 million Even amidst extreme poverty, beauty finds a home; Laphia village school house, residents and students; people in Laphia Sub Mayor Judith Gonzales greets Stephens; 44 developing Laphia farm house. countries since it began in 1962.

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NC Electric Cooperatives

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Director election kits mail late May As a cooperative, your Board of Directors is made up of members representing the entire membership. Each year, Blue Ridge members vote on four open seats, one in each of the cooperative’s directorate districts.

This year, director election kits will be sent to members on May 29. Included will be: • biographical information for all candidates; • instructions to vote online or by mail (online saves postage); • and a proxy for members to vote in every district.

Voting online saves postage, which helps us control costs for members.

We encourage you to try the online voting option for director elections!

Voting online or by mail enables you to conveniently be involved in your cooperative by choosing other members to serve as your voice. However, members may still attend and vote for directors during the Annual Meeting.

If you opted to receive the emailed director election kit, it will include a link to vote.

If you receive the kit by regular mail, instructions are included for voting online or by returning the proxy provided in the kit. If voting by mail, the form must be signed by the member with their choices clearly marked and returned in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. All proxy votes are due no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19, 2019.

To ensure the integrity of director elections, Survey and Ballot Systems, an independent election administrator, was approved by the Credentials and Election Committee in December 2018 (committee members’ names are available at BlueRidge Energy.com). This committee is comprised of members from across the cooperative’s service area and is responsible for ensuring director elections are properly conducted, including certifying election results.

Please note: To comply with proper election management procedures, voting forms cannot be given to an employee or accepted at any Blue Ridge office.

Look for more information on the cover wrap of this issue of Carolina Country in your director election kit mailing late May and on our website at BlueRidgeEnergy.com.

Beat rising power costs

Be a champion! Join others in Beat The Peak, a voluntary program to help hold down power costs for all Blue Ridge Energy members. Participants shift or reduce their use of electricity a few hours during peak periods, when the most electricity is being used.

Beat The Peak participants can help keep rates affordable and bills low and even delay the need for new power plants!

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SIGN UP today for alerts at BlueRidgeEnergy.com/BTP.

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BRE’s vegetation management benefits wildlife

Discounted wildlife seed available to members To encourage wildlife habitat and enhance the scenic beauty of cooperative rights of way on members’ property, Blue Ridge Energy partners with the Whitetail Institute to offer members a 20 percent discount on purchases of wildlife seed such as clover, chicory, chufa, winter peas and more.

These types of low growing vegetation are ideal for open corridors and can provide a food source for many species including rabbits, deer, wild turkey and birds. It’s also the perfect option to enhance appearance of rights of way where large trees and shrubs are a threat to power lines and poles.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson

EDITOR Renée R. Whitener

PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Susan Simmons

Members with heavily wooded property near cooperative rights of way have an additional incentive and option: Blue Ridge Energy will pay one-half of the cost, up to $500 per acre, to any member who converts woodland to cropland or permanent pasture. Members qualify for this monetary reimbursement only if

they contact Blue Ridge Energy in advance and receive approval prior to the start of clearing the woodland area.

While Blue Ridge Energy members own the rights of way on their property, it’s the responsibility of the cooperative to maintain the poles and lines, as well as to manage vegetation in these areas in order to keep electricity flowing for all of the membership.

Blue Ridge trims and removes trees, as well as applies environmentally safe herbicides to hinder tall vegetation in rights of way. However, for rights of way in pastureland areas where no large trees and shrubs exist, planting wildlife seed offers an alternative vegetation management option.

To order wildlife seed, go to Blue RidgeEnergy.com > Resources > Purchase Discounted Wildlife Seed and type coupon code “Blue Ridge Energy” when prompted to receive the discounted price.

DISTRICT OFFICES

Caldwell (828) 754-9071 Watauga (828) 264-8894 (336) 846-7138 Ashe Alleghany (336) 372-4646 Wilkes (800) 451-5474 PowerLine® (800) 448-2383

(PowerLine® is an automated account information and outage reporting system.)

Toll Free

May is Electrical Safety Month Here are several basic tips to keep in mind when using electricity: •

(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 +

•

Unplug it. Appliances, tools and other devices are still connected to electricity when they are plugged in. Turn off AND unplug all portable electric devices when you’re finished using them.

Toss it. Inspect electrical cords often for broken connectors or fraying, and throw away any worn cords to eliminate the possibility of shock, short circuit or fire.

Cover it. Use plug covers in outlets if you have young children. Teach them never to put their fingers in electrical outlets or appliances, and keep cords and electrical devices away from them.

Avoid it. Never go near a power line. If you encounter a downed line, leave the area immediately and notify your cooperative or call 911. Never place ladders, poles or other items near power lines, and don’t drive over downed lines.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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