A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM BLUE RIDGE ENERGY
matters MEMBERSHIP
September 2020
7 Great Reasons to Drive Electric Whether your priority is saving money, increasing convenience, helping the environment or experiencing the latest technology, electric vehicles (EVs) offer something for everyone. 1. Significant savings. Powering a car with electricity is cheaper than gas, so electric vehicles cost less to run. EVs are becoming increasingly affordable to purchase, and tax incentives and rebates can also help reduce their price tag. 2. Convenience. Imagine never having to go to the gas station again! Most EV drivers charge overnight at home. A growing network of public charging stations also make it increasingly convenient to charge your EV. 3. Less maintenance. EVs tend to have fewer moving parts than gasoline-powered vehicles, they require no oil changes and less maintenance. 4. A better driving experience. Electric vehicles are fun to drive, with faster acceleration and a more responsive feel behind the wheel that offers faster pickup and improved turning power. They are quieter than gasoline-powered cars, and come in an increasing range of models and sleek design options.
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5. Healthier environment. Plug-in electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions, which improves air quality and benefits us all. Even when accounting for generation of the electricity that powers EVs, emissions are lower than those of traditional vehicles. 6. A stronger local economy. Electric vehicles decrease our dependence on foreign oil and encourage local economic development. Installations of charging stations can help promote tourism and commerce as EV drivers are drawn to the communities surrounding the stations. 7. A more efficient electric grid. By charging overnight, electric vehicles create demand for power at a time when the grid has historically been most underutilized and therefore least efficient. Spreading demand across nighttime hours can help fill demand valleys and create new revenue to keep rates lower for all members. To learn more about the many benefits of driving electric, visit NCdriveelectric.com/BlueRidgeEnergy.
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W g o
the
perspective From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson
How members benefit from our subsidiaries When your cooperative first diversified in 1998 by adding a propane and heating fuels subsidiary, which we now operate under the shared market name of Blue Ridge Energy, it was to benefit members and keep your bills as low as possible. That was also the goal when we added a second subsidiary in 2009, RidgeLink, which provides fiber optic infrastructure to cellular broadband, education, health care, government and business sectors.
through their contributions. Last year, Propane and Fuels and RidgeLink donated $50,000 to the Members Foundation to be used for crisis heating assistance and community grants to improve health care, education, elder and youth services, and more.
Our subsidiaries are benefitting members and the customers they serve in several important ways. Caldwell district’s hearth and home showroom
In addition to providing local jobs to strengthen the economy in our service area, profits earned by the subsidiaries are used to keep your electric bills lower by offsetting operating costs at the cooperative. In 2019, our subsidiary companies produced a combined net benefit of $3.7 million to the cooperative, helping keep member rates stable and as low as possible! Our subsidiaries also benefit local communities
Our Propane and Fuels subsidiary also leases space to provide showrooms in each of the cooperative’s district offices where you can receive expert advice and purchase products such as fireplaces and gas logs, space heaters, backup power generators, water heaters, outdoor fire tables, patio heaters, custom grills, outdoor furniture and more! During this time of a pandemic, our showrooms are open by appointment only.
As members, it’s important for you to know about your subsidiary companies. We hope you join us in our excitement to pursue continued growth in order to increase subsidiary benefits to you and all members to help keep rates as low as possible and contribute to the local quality of life in our communities.
Board Update During their regular July meeting, your Board of Directors elected the following as officers of the Board: Jeff Joines, President; David Eggers, Vice President; Joy Coffey, Secretary-Treasurer; and Johnny Wishon, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer. Page 18
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MEMBERSHIP matters
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Fo so
Want the chance to win a $25 Visa gift card while also giving us the opportunity to better serve you?
Enter to win today!
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h e.
s
*Contest Rules: Only one contest entry and winner per account. Drawings will be held monthly. Updating your email address automatically enters you in all monthly drawings. Members who win will not be eligible for future drawings in this contest.
Follow us on social media!
Ways to enter: • Update your information at My Account on BlueRidgeEnergy.com or create your online account for the first time. • Go to BlueRidgeEnergy.com/ EmailUpdate and complete the form there, if you don’t want to create an online account. • Complete a form at any of our district offices.
Do you have money waiting? To help our former members receive refunds due to them through the cooperative’s capital credits retirements, all unclaimed capital credits are listed on our website. To check the list, 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 to find the “Unclaimed Capital Credits” link.
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n er
Unclaimed capital credits are funds waiting for our former members for whom we don’t have a valid address. 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 North Carolina while ensuring reliable electricity for members is why Blue Ridge Energy has made funds available to help convert rightsof-way to wildlife habitats.
honeybees and other pollinators.
Up to $500 per acre is available to members who have cooperative rights-of-way on their property in wooded or other qualifying areas. The funds are to help offset costs the member would incur to remove trees and plant certain types of grass, low-growing shrubs, wildflowers and other vegetation to attract wildlife such as rabbits, turkeys, birds, deer and
Programs like this not only benefit the environment and improve appearance, they also help ensure reliable electricity for members and give line technicians a safe pathway when working on power lines.
Members qualify for funds only if they contact Blue Ridge Energy’s vegetation management staff and receive approval prior to the start of their project.
Visit BlueRidgeEnergy.com and click on the “Resources” tab for more information.
EDITOR
Reneé R. Whitener
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
Telephone Town Hall coming soon!
DISTRICT OFFICES
Join us for our Telephone Town Hall on Thursday, October 15, at 6:30 pm. To participate, simply answer the phone when we call at this time.
Susan Simmons 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 one of the numbers listed above.
OFFICE HOURS:
8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday Night deposit available. Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEnergy.com +
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You’ll hear Chief Executive Officer Doug Johnson discuss timely updates about your cooperative. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions. We will call members a few days prior to the event as a reminder of the date, time and how to participate. The primary phone number on member’s accounts will be used, so please contact us today to be sure we have the number you prefer listed on your account!
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
MEMBERSHIP matters
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