A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM BLUE RIDGE ENERGY
matters MEMBERSHIP
October 2020
Blue Ridge Energy begins utility-scale solar project
Blue Ridge Energy has announced that work is progressing on its utility-scale solar project as it begins approval processes with the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
This new facility will be located on approximately 50 acres in the Granite Falls community of Caldwell County and will produce over 19 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually that will help control wholesale power cost to keep rates stable for the members served by Blue Ridge Energy. Site preparation studies and electrical system impact studies are currently underway, with the county permitting process taking place this fall and winter. Construction is expected to begin in early 2021, with the system completed and online in the summer of 2021. The project is part of the electric cooperative’s Brighter Future initiative, after which the solar facility is named. The Brighter Future initiative includes a goal of 50 percent carbon reduction by 2030 and net carbon of 0 percent by 2050 by adding solar, reducing carbon emissions from fossil fuel vehicles, battery storage for electricity, special rates and pricing programs for members to encourage energy efficiency.
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The purpose of the utility-scale solar project is to add additional carbon-free solar electricity for member consumption and to help keep rates stable. It may also help the cooperative provide alternative rate options to benefit the membership in the future and help the cooperative manage peak power demands for electricity. The project joins the cooperative’s five existing community “shared solar” facilities in which members subscribe and receive a credit on their bill based on the output of the facilities. Blue Ridge Energy will continue offering its Community Solar option to the members that are interested in seeing a more direct benefit of solar offsetting the actual usage for their home. “Looking to the decade ahead and beyond, we remain focused on providing you electricity that is reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible,” said Doug Johnson, chief executive officer of Blue Ridge Energy.
“Utility-scale solar power has become more economical in recent years and is one of the fastest ways to reduce carbon emissions to put our country on the right path to a clean energy future” — Doug Johnson
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From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson
Being there for our members 2020 has created unique hardships and challenges for our membership and the employees working to serve you each day. In good times and bad, being there for our members is a top priority and it’s reflected in the efforts of the employees at Blue Ridge Energy. It makes me proud to share with you, that your cooperative has achieved a score of 90 in electric utility customer satisfaction on the American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) — the cooperative’s highest score ever, which ranks it among the top utilities in the nation for consumer satisfaction. Earning this score is no small task and it requires a team of dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to be an asset to the members of Blue Ridge. Meeting the challenges we face requires passion for local communities and a love for the people that live there. While we’ve seen this dedication reflected in recent ACSI scores, it is even more evident throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Did you know? A recent ACSI score of 90 marks the highest score achieved in Blue Ridge Energy history and ranks the cooperative among the top utilities in the nation for consumer satisfaction.
In March, it became clear that COVID-19 would be no small bump in the road. Meeting the challenges faced across our service area requires doing business in new ways, keeping people safe and working to help soften the financial impact the virus has on our members. The “In This Together” Relief Fund helps to alleviate the financial stress on families and individuals struggling to pay their electric and Propane and Fuels bills. Seeing our staff work hard to make this program available, makes me proud. I am even more proud of the number of employees and board members stepping up to the plate without being asked and donating to the relief fund. Being a member of the Blue Ridge family always requires a love for people and a passion for the communities we serve. While this year has been difficult at times, know that our staff and board of directors will continue working to find ways to make a positive impact and keep you, the member, as its top priority.
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Blue Ridge Energy awarded funding for new electric vehicle charging station A new electric vehicle (EV) charging station is coming to Boone! Blue Ridge Energy will be installing a DC Fast Charger at its Watauga District office located at 2491 US Hwy 421 South. Installation is expected to be complete by the end of the second quarter of 2021.
Johnson, Blue Ridge Energy CEO. “Our members are increasingly interested in the convenience, cost savings and environmental advantage of electric vehicles, and we are proud to support expansion of this technology by securing funding for this local project.”
North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are working to Blue Ridge Energy applied for create a statewide network of and was awarded a little over EV charging stations, enabling $73,000 to fund a DC Fast the increased adoption of EV Charger as part of a U.S. technology. Cooperatives Environmental Protection Agency settlement with primarily serve members in rural locations, and their Volkswagen. In North Carolina, expanding charging network the Volkswagen funds were DC Fast Charger located at the Caldwell district fills gaps in charging awarded and distributed by the office in Lenoir. A second fast charger will be infrastructure in rural and N.C. Department of coming to the Blue Ridge system soon. tourist-visited areas, Environmental Quality. The creating environmental and economic benefits state’s electric cooperatives jointly applied for the for communities. funds as coordinated by the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives. For more information about the benefits of driving electric, visit NCDriveElectric.com/BlueRidge or “This charging station will help increase local commerce, reduce emissions and bring the benefits of BlueRidgeEnergy.com/EV. driving electric to our community,” said Doug
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Changing: renewable energy charge
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The NC REPS charge on your bill is decreasing beginning on October bills. This charge is for the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard law passed by the 2007 North Carolina General Assembly. It requires all utilities to generate and distribute more electricity from renewable resources and to encourage energy efficiency by their consumers.
Energy’s electricity consumed by its members is now produced from renewable resources. (This is in addition to the cooperative’s community solar production). Expenses to comply with the NC REPS law fluctuates annually according to renewable and energy efficiency projects by wholesale power providers.
Members will see the following changes: the residential fee will move from $1.03 to 84 cents; the commercial fee will move from $5.95 to $4.70 and the industrial fee will move from: $37.39 to $30.45. Your cooperative has coordinated with its wholesale power supplier to meet NC REPS in the most efficient manner possible. Currently, 10 percent of Blue Ridge Page 19
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Longtime member service director to retire; Lingle and Spencer promoted Sandra Hicks, 45-year employee with Blue Ridge Energy, is retiring in January as director of member services responsible for overseeing member and customer care for the cooperative and its propane and fuels subsidiary.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson
EDITOR
Reneé 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 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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Hicks has worked her entire career in member service, with one of her most significant accomplishments achieved recently when she led Blue Ridge Energy to a top spot in the nation for electric utility customer satisfaction on the American Consumer Satisfaction Index. Sandra Hicks, retiring Director of Throughout Member Service her career, Hicks achieved many advancements and led the research tracking and service improvements for Blue Ridge Energy. As a recognized leader, she was asked to speak about customer service across the country as she led the effort that maintained steady satisfaction results year after year. In preparation for her retirement and to support future Blue Ridge Energy strategy, the cooperative has announced Jason Lingle as Director of Energy Solutions and Crystal Spencer as Director of Marketing. Lingle will lead the workforce and services they provide in all district front offices as well as the member/ customer contact center and energy solutions operations. He will also be developing and executing strategies to provide new energy products and
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
services to electric members and propane and fuels customers of Blue Jason Lingle, Director of Energy Solutions Ridge Energy to meet current consumer needs as well as to prepare and respond to the energy industry market. Lingle, who holds his Master’s in Business Administration from East Carolina University and undergraduate degree from Appalachian State University, joined Blue Ridge Energy in 2007. Spencer, an Ashe County native, joined Blue Ridge Energy in Crystal Spencer, Director of Marketing 2018 with 20 years of marketing experience, including 12 years in the telecommunications cooperative space. Spencer will lead marketing and economic development efforts for Blue Ridge Energy. She is assuming Hicks’ research role to stay attuned to member/ customer satisfaction, trends and interests. She also will manage the cooperative’s efforts to support economic development within its service territory. Spencer earned a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an undergraduate degree from Garner-Webb University. MEMBERSHIP matters
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