embership M
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MATTERS
Restoring power during a storm Step by step... Restoring power after a major outage involves steps for safely getting the most members restored in the shortest amount of time. Our plan is based on these priorities: Step 1: Transmission structures and lines that supply power to one or more transmission substations are restored first. These main delivery lines receive first priority because they serve tens of thousands of people. Step 2: Next are distribution substations, which “step down” (reduce) voltage from transmission lines so it can be distributed to thousands of members. Step 3: Main distribution supply lines (the ones you see on poles along roads) that carry electricity away from substations are targeted next. Step 4: The final power supply lines to a member’s home, called “tap lines,” are restored next. These carry power from utility poles or underground transformers. Step 5: Damage can also occur on the service line leading from the transformer pole into your home. This could be why your neighbors have power and you don’t and is one reason all outages should be reported. Outages can be reported 24/7 via Blue Ridge Energy’s mobile app, by calling 1-800-448-2383, or by using outage texting. Sign up for outage texting by texting START to 70216 before you have an outage.
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THE
Perspective What ’s Ahead in 2022
Making life better for members and the communities your cooperative serves is the driving force behind everything we do at Blue Ridge Energy! Before we look ahead, first let me say that I’m very excited your cooperative was able to provide $6 million in bill credits on members’ August 2021 bills! This was our portion of funds received from Duke Energy Carolina’s (DEC) recent coal ash settlement as approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission for DEC’s retail customers. Our wholesale power agreement with DEC provides for us to receive a commensurate refund as part of the retail parity provision included in our contract with DEC. We were very pleased to give this money back to our members! As we begin the new year, our Brighter Future Vision broadens to include an implementation phase focusing on carbon dioxide reduction. One way we’ll achieve this is through our Brighter Future utility-scale solar facility in Caldwell County, located in the Grace Chapel community. It will start producing power onto our grid in early 2022. In addition to reducing our summer peak demand, it will enable us to offer a new green rate rider to help our counties, towns and higher education institutions achieve their sustainability goals. This facility will generate over 19 million kilowatt hours (kwh) per year of solar power which we can make available to our local governments and institutions to help them meet their carbon dioxide reduction and sustainability goals. With the expected cost increases in electric power generation fuels, we are undertaking every possible effort to control and manage rising costs for our members! We’re also adding a new JEMS hybrid-electric bucket truck with battery power to operate the
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From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson
bucket and cab conditioning to prevent diesel idling on the job site. Plus, we have four new hybrid service trucks on order for next year! The JEMS, or jobsite energy management system, helps reduce fuel consumption, decrease carbon footprint, reduce maintenance costs and complies with anti-idle legislation. In 2022, we will also begin deployment of our new Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) which will enable us to better operate our grid with power flows coming from multiple directions. This is important as federal and state energy policy, industry advances, and consumer demand rise in Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) such as solar, battery storage, electric vehicles, energy efficiency and demand response programs. Finally, we are coordinating with DEC as they develop their 2030 carbon reduction plan as called for by recently passed legislation in NC. This law calls for a 70 percent reduction in carbon dioxide by 2030 over 2005 levels. Our Brighter Future vision also includes supporting local communities in all of our traditional ways plus new initiatives such as providing broadband access to areas currently without this quality-of-life service. Our RidgeLink subsidiary is progressing with installing the primary fiber-optic infrastructure in northern Caldwell County with the help of a state grant and through a partnership with SkyBest Communications, who will be the Internet Service Provider (ISP). We continue work on future broadband possibilities for Watauga County as well. I’m pleased to share these strategic initiatives for 2022! I look forward to sharing more plans with you throughout this year and I wish you a very happy and healthy New Year!
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Be prepared by downloading our app and keeping basic necessities on hand. Remember that through it all, Blue Ridge is on call for you.
outage reporting options •
Call PowerLine at 1-800-448-2383
p werline
to report an outage. 1-800-448-2383
•
Use the Blue Ridge mobile app
Search for “Blue Ridge Mobile App” in your app store and download it for free on your smartphone or tablet!
•
Sign up for Outage Texting - Text “START” to 70216
- Text “OUT” to 70216 to report an outage and receive updates until final restoration * Your mobile number must be listed on your Blue Ridge Energy account to enroll for Outage Texting. Go to BlueRidgeEnergy.com/ outagetexting to learn more.
2022 director candidate nominee options Members wishing to be considered as a candidate for the Board of Directors have two application options: the Nominating Committee process or the nomination by petition process. Interested members must complete and submit a director application packet by contacting Julie O’Dell, chief administrative officer, at jodell@blueridgeenergy.com or 1-800-451-5474, ext. 3202. All application information is due by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 when going through the Nominating Committee process, and by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2022 for
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those seeking nomination by petition. Nominations by petition must include signatures of 20 or more members with a minimum of five from each of the four directorate districts with a requirement that each signature is the name that appears on the member’s electric service bill. For a complete list of qualifications to serve as a director of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, please refer to the cooperative’s Bylaws available at any district office or online at BlueRidgeEnergy.com.
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Vegetation management helps ensure reliable, safe electricity Fallen trees and broken limbs are the largest cause of power outages. With over 8,000 miles of power lines to protect, your electric cooperative works year-round on our vegetation management program to ensure members enjoy the most reliable electricity possible. These efforts also contribute to a safe working environment for line technicians. Vegetation management occurs in our rightsof-way. These are corridors, or strips of land, along either side of power lines. Most of our system is made up of distribution lines that carry power from substations to homes and businesses. The right-of-way for this type of line is a total of 30 feet (15 feet on each side). Blue Ridge Energy is a unique cooperative in that we must also build and maintain our own transmission system because of our remote location far away from the transmission grid of Duke Energy. These high-voltage transmission lines enable us to deliver the electricity we receive from our power supplier at our connection point in the foothills to members living in our mountain service areas. The right-of-way for these lines range from a total of 100 to 250 feet, depending on the voltage of the line. For safety, it’s important for the public to remember that power lines can energize
Vegetation management helps Blue Ridge Energy achieve one of the best reliability ratings in the country. anything or anyone that gets too close to the line, including tree limbs, ladders, equipment that can have a high overhead reach such as forklifts, or even a kite string. Well maintained rights-of-way help ensure that trees and limbs don’t get close enough to power lines to energize them. While this helps keep electricity reliable, it also helps keep people and animals from being electrocuted or severely injured. Our vegetation management program combines several methods to control growth — all with the goal of balancing the beauty of our area while ensuring safe, reliable electricity.
Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEnergy.com CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson EDITOR Renée R. Whitener PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Jacob Puckett
Membership MAT TERS
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DISTRICT OFFICES Caldwell Watauga Ashe Alleghany Wilkes PowerLine*
TOLL FREE (828) 754-9071 (828) 264-8894 (336) 846-7138 (336) 372-4646 (800) 451-5474 (800) 448-2383
(800) 451-5474
OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday Kiosks available
(PowerLine* is an automated account information and outage reporting system)
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