2020-05-BRE MM

matters MEMBERSHIP

May 2020

Good news: Capital credits and In This Together COVID-19 Relief Fund At the time this newsletter was written in March, COVID-19 had begun creating difficult times for many in our local communities, state and nation. A • bright spot is that earlier this year, your cooperative’s Board of Directors approved a capital credits refund to members totaling over $5 million!

For many of you, the refund will be a much-needed source of income. For others, you may be fortunate enough to consider donating all or a part of your refund to Operation Round Up® and your Blue Ridge Energy Members Foundation to help in our special campaign called “In This Together.” We created the special campaign to join together in raising funds to help local households severely impacted by the effects of COVID-19.

Every cent donated to this campaign goes directly to help local residents in need of crisis energy assistance.

Here’s how it works: •

Donations: Go online at BlueRidgeEnergy.com/ Together; call us at 1-800-451-5474; or drop a

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check in the mail to: Blue Ridge Energy Members Foundation, PO Box 112, Lenoir, NC 28645.

Assistance: Contact your local helping agency.

Up to $150 for electric and fuel bill assistance; up to $300 for those with unemployment issues.

Capital credits checks begin mailing in early May. Members qualifying for a $35 or more refund will be mailed a check separate from their electric bill. Those qualifying for less will see it as a credit to their electric account in May. Capital credits may present a unique and easy opportunity for you to donate to this special campaign. We are joining together with our members during this unprecedented time of need! Unlike a storm, the effects of COVID-19 will be longer lasting.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

If you are able, please consider making a donation.

We’re in this together!

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the

perspective From Blue Ridge Energy CEO Doug Johnson

In this together As I write this column in late-March, the COVID-19 isolation and closings have impacted all of us personally and economically. We here at Blue Ridge Energy realize the impact this is having on our members and customers, now and in the future.

These are unprecedented times. If ever a time has called for measures above and beyond normal, now is the time.

Many who’ve never had to ask for help before are struggling to provide basic necessities for their families. The magnitude of this need has certainly not yet been fully realized.

As a cooperative with roots deeply embedded in our local communities, we’re responding to this crisis. That’s why we’ve created the campaign “In this Together.” We’re mobilizing to distribute record-level crisis assistance funds from the Blue Ridge Energy Members Foundation, which is funded by Operation Round Up® donations as well as contributions from the profits of your Propane and Fuels and RidgeLink subsidiaries.

While I’m pleased to say your Foundation has several thousands of dollars to kick start the effort, we

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don’t project that will be near enough to cover the enormous, long-term need resulting from COVID-19.

That’s why we’re inviting members who can to join us in raising crisis funds with your donation of any amount to the Members Foundation.

Whether you can donate $1, $10 or $100, your contribution will make a difference.

All funds will go directly to help local residents in need of crisis energy assistance.

As we issue capital credits returns this time of year, it may present a good opportunity for some members to donate to this special campaign. We know that many will find these funds critical to their needs right now. For others more fortunate, we invite you to join with us in making a donation of any amount using the options listed to the right.

In this Together!

Help local residents who need crisis energy funds!

Donate in one of the following ways today: • Go online to donate by check or credit card: BlueRidgeEnergy.com/ Together • Mail your donation by check (payable to Blue Ridge Energy Members Foundation) to PO Box 112, Lenoir, NC 28645 • Call us to make a donation by check, debit or credit card: 1-800-451-5474.

The cooperative difference is about joining together to help each other.

There’s never been a better time to join together. Help us answer the need today. After all, we’re all in this together!

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r!

ho ds!

Since the beginning of COVID-19, Blue Ridge Energy has suspended disconnects, waived late fees and offered special payment plans. Learn more about relief for all NC residents and Gov. Roy Cooper’s Executive Order No. 124 at Governor.NC.gov.

Annual Membership Meeting plans underway

Director election kits coming late May At 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.

With the current uncertainty regarding whether there will be Stay at Home Orders or a State of Emergency Declaration at the state or local level in June 2020, Blue Ridge is making plans for an alternative process to hold its 2020 Annual Meeting remotely. This will include a slightly modified process for voting by ballot during the Annual Meeting if a member has not already voted by proxy or wishes to change the prior proxy vote.

The Cooperative is planning for this remote option for the Annual Meeting to ensure compliance with all laws, government orders and government health recommendations for the protection of employees and members. As we deal with this level of uncertainty, the safest way to participate in this year’s director election process is to vote by proxy, using the director election kit that will be sent to members in late May, in advance of the Annual Meeting. Members can mail their proxy provided in that kit or go online to the website that will be listed in the kit.

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If an alternative process for holding the Annual Meeting is necessary, we will communicate how members may participate in the Annual Meeting in the June Carolina Country. The date and time for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation remains Thursday, June 25, 2020, at 4:00 PM, whether held in the traditional onsite meeting format at the Corporate office in Lenoir or through remote participation and special ballot collection procedures.

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Director election kits will be sent to members on May 27. Included will be:

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•

biographical information for all candidates

•

a proxy for members to vote in every district

•

instructions to vote online or by mail

•

a link to vote online if you opted to receive your director elections kit by email

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 no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. To comply with proper election management procedures, the form cannot be given to an employee or accepted at any Blue Ridge office.

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 2019 (committee members’ names are available at BlueRidgeEnergy.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.

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.

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In order to minimize potential spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we encourage you to utilize our online and by-phone services. #InThisTogether

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson

check out our

Automated service options

EDITOR

Renée R. Whitener

PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Susan Simmons

DISTRICT OFFICES Caldwell Watauga Ashe Alleghany Wilkes PowerLine®

(828) 754-9071 (828) 264-8894 (336) 846-7138 (336) 372-4646 (800) 451-5474 (800) 448-2383

Toll Free

(800) 451-5474

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

(for members outside of the service area.)

To report an outage at any time, call PowerLine at (800) 448-2383.

OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday Kiosk available 24/7 + Night deposit Visit us on the web at BlueRidgeEnergy.com and follow us via our social media channels at

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Access your accounts and pay online online at BlueRidgeEnergy.com > My Account OR chat with us!

Download the “Blue Ridge Energy Mobile App” for FREE today on your smartphone or tablet!

By phone

1-800-451-5474

At our payment kiosks at each district office*; Harris Teeter, Shadowline Drive, Boone; Scotchman Convenience Store, US Hwy. 321, Hudson; and Warrensville Drug, NC Hwy. 88W, Warrensville. *Propane and fuels payments at district office locations only.

By mail: Blue Ridge Energy PO Box 112 Lenoir, NC 28645

Envelope deposit slots at all district office kiosks (Normally applied the next business day.)

At Blue Ridge Energy, we’re focused on our members, especially during COVID-19.

That’s why we’ve suspended disconnections for late or nonpayments.We’re also waiving fees for emergency Propane and Fuels deliveries and late payments. Members who need a special payment plan can also call us at 1-800-451-5474. As we monitor COVID-19 and its impacts, we will adjust plans and procedures as necessary.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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