Keeping your costs manageable is always our goal. At Blue Ridge Energy, we’ve found a smart way for you to help! It’s called Beat The Peak, and it’s all about working together to keep electricity affordable for our community.
Think of “peaks” as those short times when electricity is most expensive to buy. These are usually on the hottest summer weekdays (typically 2-7 P.M.) or the coldest winter mornings (6-9 AM) when everyone is consuming the most electricity.
When you sign up for Beat The Peak, we’ll send you a quick text or email alert when one of these periods is expected. Then, you simply choose to make small, simple shifts. Actions like adjusting your thermostat, turning off unnecessary lights, or delaying laundry until after the peak are easy steps you can take.
When our members voluntarily reduce their electricity usage during these peak times, it makes a big difference in controlling our power purchase costs, helping to keep rates — and your bills — low for everyone.
It’s free, it’s voluntary, and it truly makes a difference. Learn more or sign up at BlueRidgeEnergy.com/BTP. Or simply text “btp” to 70216 to join!
BEAT PEAK
Perspective
How Do Members Benefit From Our Subsidiaries?
Keeping your bill as low as possible has always been the goal behind why we formed two subsidiary companies: first with Blue Ridge Energy Propane and Fuels and later with RidgeLink, which leases high-capacity fiber to broadband and wireless service providers.
All the profits from these two companies come back to the cooperative’s bottom line, which keeps your rates as low as possible. Their success has helped us weather some of the mounting pressure from a rising cost storm of wholesale power, materials and contract labor increases that is putting significant pressure on utilities everywhere, resulting in rising consumer costs.
The growth and success of these two subsidiaries are coming at a perfect time when costs are increasing for electric ratepayers. The two subsidiaries contributed a record $6 million in benefit to Blue Ridge Electric members in 2024 plus made a $2 million in excess cash contribution to help reduce the amount necessary for the rate adjustment implemented last year! That’s producing real value for members.
Supporting our local communities is another way the subsidiaries benefit members. Last year, Propane and Fuels and RidgeLink donated $65,000 to your cooperative’s Members Foundation. These funds support crisis heating assistance and community grants aimed at improving health care, education, and services for both elders and youth. In the aftermath of Helene, they also contributed to the Mountain Strong Fund.
Propane and Fuels also benefits communities by donating to local breast cancer-related organizations. Since 2013, over $151,000 has been donated through our Pink Truck “Fueling the Fight” program.
Also of significance is the part RidgeLink plays in bringing broadband to unserved or underserved areas, constructing the backbone infrastructure for these critical quality-of-life services.
As members, it’s important for you to know about your subsidiary companies and how we’re working to make life better. We hope you join in our excitement to pursue continued growth to increase subsidiary benefits to you and all members to help keep rates as low as possible and improve the quality of life in our communities.
From Blue Ridge CEO
Katie Woodle
Teachers: Apply Now for Bright Ideas Grants!
In our 31st year of awarding Bright Ideas grants, $25,000 will be awarded this year to K-12 teachers who submit winning grant ideas for creative learning projects. Teachers must apply by Sept. 15.
Submit grant applications and learn more at ncbrightideas.com. Winners, who are announced in November, can be awarded up to $1,500 for an individual grant.
Bright Ideas grants benefit students with learning opportunities that are not able to be funded by regular school budgets.
Board of Directors Update
Nearly 5,800 members voted in this year’s director elections, thanks to convenient options of voting by mail or internet. Members could also vote at the cooperative’s corporate office in Lenoir during the annual meeting held June 26.
Directors elected to serve three-year terms were: Jeff Joines, Caldwell district; James Burl (J.B.) Lawrence, Watauga district; S. Douglas (Doug) Spell, Ashe district; and Bryan Edwards, Alleghany district.
Updates of annual meeting reports are online at BlueRidgeEnergy.com/company/AM
At their regular June meeting, your Board of Directors elected the following board officers: Jeff Joines, president; Johnny Wishon, vice president; Kelly Melton, secretary-treasurer; and J.B. Lawrence, assistant secretary-treasurer.
Splash Into Savings: How to Lower Summer Energy Bills
Costs for cooling your home can make up a large portion of your summer electric bills. We work to provide members with the lowest cost electricity! These tips can help keep your bills lower:
No-Cost Tips
• Close blinds, curtains, and shades on sun-facing windows during the day.
• Raise your thermostat 2-4 degrees higher than your usual comfort setting during peak usage hours of 2-7 p.m. on weekdays and higher when you’re away.
• Ceiling or box fans use far less energy and can enable you to stay cooler when you raise your thermostat settings.
• Avoid using hot water for laundry or dishwashing whenever possible.
• Air dry dishes and clothes.
• Use a microwave, crockpot or grill outdoors instead of your range or oven.
Low-Cost Tips
• Plant trees and shrubs that shade the exterior of your home in summer.
• Replace disposable air filters monthly (or according to your manufacturer’s
