Caring for natural habitats while maintaining rights-of-way
Enhancing the natural beauty of western North Carolina while maintaining reliable electricity for members and a safe working environment for our line technicians is why Blue Ridge Energy takes great care with controlling trees and large brush in rights-of-way.
Our vegetation management program combines several growth control methods that balance scenic beauty with safe, reliable power. We also work with members who want to join us in this effort.
areas. The funds help offset costs the member would incur to remove trees and plant certain types of grass, low-growing shrubs, wildflowers and other low-growing vegetation to attract wildlife such as rabbits, turkeys, birds, deer, honeybees and other pollinators.
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.
Did you know the single-largest cost for Blue Ridge Energy and most electric utility companies is purchasing or generating the power we deliver to your home?
Rising costs over the past few years have challenged our entire economy, including your cooperative. Our responsibility as a cooperative is to shield you from these economic impacts as much as possible.
One way we do this is by negotiating the best price and most favorable contracts for the power we purchase to deliver to our members and communities. This makes the biggest impact on the price you pay for your bill. Due to these efforts, $319 million has been saved on this cost since 2004 and that has played the largest part in avoiding rate increases during the past decade.
We are concerned now that the state and national energy transition to renewable resources is going too far, too fast! Cost estimates for the next 5-10 years indicate we are entering a significant rising costs era. We are also concerned about reliability as energy policies are requiring closure of fossil fuel power plants and replacing them with intermittent generation resources.
World events, as well as domestic energy policies for carbon reduction, are threatening grid reliability and affordability. Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, can’t meet electric demand when conditions aren’t optimal (for example, solar can’t supply our
needs at night or when weather conditions are extreme, like Winter Storm Elliott).
Our management team and I are evaluating the cost impacts for our members and how these changes will affect our rates. We are advocating for a balanced approach for power supply resources to ensure members receive the most reliable electricity at the most affordable price.
A balanced approach to power generation is a smart policy that must include advanced nuclear options and dispatchable natural gas generation, which are sources of power that can be used on demand when grid operators need to meet high or unusual consumer and market needs.
Controlling costs will also involve demand management initiatives. These programs help us reduce the amount of electricity we need to purchase during peak periods, which is when consumer demand for electricity is at its highest, causing power prices to rise. Time of Use rates, load control programs and beneficial electrification, or home overnight charging of electric vehicles, are also playing a growing role in helping us shift electric demand to off-peak, less expensive periods that help us control cost for members.
In addition, Blue Ridge Energy employees are working hard internally to look out for you.
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