2022-10-BRE MM

embership M

10

TWENTY TWENTY TWO

MATTERS

Hunting Vampire Elec tronic s Getting rid of vampire electricity is an effective way to control your energy bill. “Standby” energy is used by electronic devices and appliances, even when they appear to be turned off, as long as they’re plugged into an outlet. However, you can lower your energy costs with a few easy steps: •

Unplug devices when not in use.

•

Use power strips to unplug several items at once with the flip of a switch. Set strips to sleep mode after a few minutes of inactivity.

•

Turn off screen savers on desktop computers. For laptops, disable screen saver mode.

•

Smart plugs that work with a mobile app help you schedule appliances and other items to turn off and on automatically, which can help reduce energy usage.

•

Consider disabling the “quick start” mode on your TV.

•

When replacing appliances, look for new energy-efficient models with the Energy Star label.

For the average homeowner, vampire electronics can add 20 percent to monthly electric bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Fortunately, you can rid your home of vampire electricity by noticing how your home uses energy and taking simple steps to address it.

Blue Ridge-1022.indd 11

9/9/22 11:00 AM

THE

Perspective

N

T here is a Cooperative Dif f erence:

From Blue Ridge CEO, Doug Johnson

What do ACE Hardware, State Farm, REI, Land O’Lakes and Blue Ridge Energy have in common? We are all cooperatives.

We represent different industries, but we all share a passion for serving our members and communities. Cooperatives adhere to seven principles that reflect our core values of honesty, transparency, collaboration and service. October is National Co-op Month the perfect time to reflect on key cooperative principles that have stood the test of time and provide a framework for the future.

Then: Cooperatives were created out of necessity, meeting a need that would have been otherwise unmet. In 1936, a group of neighbors banded together and organized our electric cooperative. For a modest membership fee, any farmer could get electricity. Neighbors tackled a problem they could not solve alone.

They worked together for the benefit of the whole community, and the newly established electric lines powered economic opportunity.

While this history may be forgotten, key parts of that heritage remain: the focus on serving the greater good and making life better.

Now: Improving our area remains a key responsibility for Blue Ridge Energy – driven by maintaining a modern grid and meeting the energy needs of now and tomorrow. We also support our members and communities in many other ways.

Last year, our Members Foundation awarded over $200,000 to community projects and nearly 1,000 families were helped with crisis energy bill assistance. The foundation, with

Page 22

Blue Ridge-1022.indd 12

the support of Operation Round Up, helps members as well as local not-for-profit programs that share our goal of improving the quality of life for our members.

We support education by awarding over $25,000 in Bright Ideas Grants to educators, providing innovative classroom experiences for students. Annually, we award over $32,000 in college scholarships and offer our Leadership Track to high school students, providing leadership development and college preparation.

Electric cooperatives were assigned as liaisons to help local qualifying entities secure government funding through the Rural Economic Development and Loan and Grant Program.

Your cooperative helps our communities secure thousands of dollars for projects ranging from job expansion to healthcare and, in recent years, improving local fire and rescue resources.

We’re helping bring high speed internet to pockets of our service area lacking this service. We have partnered with SkyBest Communications to secure grants such as the GREAT grant (Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology) to benefit 400 members in northeast Caldwell County. In Watauga County, Blue Ridge and SkyBest are bringing broadband to over 1,700 homes and businesses thanks to a grant and Watauga County commissioners designating funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to the project.

We celebrate all seven cooperative principles, but the heart of cooperatives remains the same. We have been demonstrating care for our communities since the 1930s and it is how we plan to “Power a Brighter Future” for tomorrow.

9/9/22 11:00 AM

B

M

s

New Right-of-Way Contrac tor A new right-of-way contractor has begun work for Blue Ridge Energy.

Lucas Tree Experts replaces the cooperative’s long-time contractor Carter Utility Tree Service, Inc. Carter sold their business to Lucas upon the retirement this year of owner Dwayne Carter. Local residents who were employed by Carter now are employed by Lucas Tree, ensuring a seamless transition with staff who have worked on Blue Ridge Energy’s system for years.

While members will continue to see white and green contractor vehicles for now, the Lucas vehicles featuring bright red and yellow markings with the name Lucas Tree Experts will eventually be in place. Contractor vehicles include identification as a Blue Ridge Energy contractor.

“We would like to thank Dwayne Carter and his employees for the many years of dedication given to Blue Ridge Energy’s vegetation program that has contributed significantly to reliable electricity for our members,” said Robert Kent, longtime Director of Operations who retires this year, and Mike Kincaid, who

now serves as Director of Operations.

Right-of-way contract crews handle the cooperative’s vegetation management program with the end goal of contributing to reliable electricity. They work within a limited space of 15 to 30 feet to trim trees and large brush to protect power lines and provide a safe path for line technicians working on the system or restoring power.

“The leading cause for outages is large trees and brush,” explained Zack Benfield, Vegetation Manager and Certified Arborist/Utility Arborist. “We are good environmental stewards, and we live in a very scenic area, so our goal is to balance vegetation management with the natural beauty of this area. Our vegetation program is key in this effort,” he said.

The cooperative ranks among the top quartile in the nation for reliability.

B oard search commit tee appointed Jeff Joines, President of the Board of Directors of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, has appointed a committee to replace Watauga District Director Hope Caroselli, who recently stepped down from the board. The cooperative’s bylaws require the board to appoint a replacement and the committee will identify potential board candidates who meet qualifications as listed in the cooperative’s bylaws. An announcement will be made upon approval of the board’s selection.

Membership

Page 13

MAT TERS

Blue Ridge-1022.indd 13

9/9/22 11:00 AM

Changing: renewable energy charge The NC REPS charge on your bill will change beginning on October bills. This charge is for the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard law requiring all utilities to generate and distribute more electricity from renewable resources and to encourage energy efficiency by their consumers.

Members will see the following changes: the residential fee will move from $1.05 to $1.54 ; the commercial fee will move from $5.78 to $8.71 and the industrial fee will move from: $37.14 to $58.96.

Your cooperative coordinates with its wholesale power supplier to meet NC REPS in the most efficient manner possible. The standard requires 10 percent of Blue Ridge Energy’s electricity consumed by members to be produced from renewable resources. (This is in addition to the cooperative’s community solar and Brighter Future Solar utility scale solar production).

Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEnergy.com CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson EDITOR Renée R. Whitener PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Jacob Puckett

Membership MAT TERS

Blue Ridge-1022.indd 14

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.)

9/9/22 11:00 AM