October 14 marks the one-year anniversary of full power restoration after Hurricane Helene impacted our lives. The storm left behind damaged homes, shattered routines and deep uncertainty. The scars are still visible — in the landscape, and in our hearts. But what has endured far longer than the storm is you.
In the face of devastation, you showed the world what it means to rise — not alone, but together. Neighbors became family. Strangers became lifelines.
This month, we remember what was lost, but more importantly, we celebrate what was found: courage, compassion, and an unshakable reminder that together, we are — and always will be — Mountain Strong.
Perspective THE
One Year After Helene — The Strength of Our Cooperative From Blue
Ridge CEO, Katie Woodle
October 14, 2024, will forever stand out in our cooperative’s history. It marked full power restoration after over two weeks of battling the effects of the most devastating storm to ever impact our region—Hurricane Helene.
One year later, we continue to reflect on the extraordinary strength, grit, and teamwork shown by our employees, community partners, and fellow cooperatives. From line technicians and operations staff to sister coops and contractors from across the country, every person played a vital role. Whether restoring lines, managing logistics, preparing meals, doing laundry, or securing local lodging for crews from as far away as New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida — everyone stepped up.
Our employees behind the scenes also worked around the clock answering phones, coordinating field crews, securing supplies, managing logistics and keeping members informed. The dedication and resilience shown during those long days and nights demonstrated the very best of the cooperative spirit. Simply saying “thank you” doesn’t fully capture the depth of our appreciation.
While power has long been restored, the effects of Helene remain. Many in our communities are still rebuilding homes, businesses, and lives. Through our Mountain Strong Helene Relief Fund, we continue to assist members who are recovering. And
as we work with FEMA for reimbursement, our cooperative is still navigating the lasting physical impacts — such as weakened tree root systems and unstable terrain that have caused an increase in outages during even small storms.
As we observe National Cooperative Month this October, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what makes your cooperative unique. We’re not just a utility — we’re your locally owned, community-driven partner with one guiding purpose: to make life better for our members and communities. That purpose has carried us through challenges and triumphs alike, and it will continue to guide us — because serving you will always remain at the heart of who we are.
C lean Energy Charge Changes
The “NC CEPS” charge on your bill is being reduced, effective on October bills. This charge is to comply with the state’s Clean Energy and Renewable Energy portfolio standard, requiring all utilities to generate and distribute more electricity from renewable, nuclear and clean energy resources, and to encourage energy efficiency among consumers.
Members will see the following changes: the residential fee will move from $2.00 to $1.89, the commercial fee will move from
$11.18 to $10.52, and the industrial fee will move from $70.49 to $67.92.
Expenses to comply with the clean energy law fluctuate annually based on the cost of energy and energy efficiency projects determined by the cooperative’s wholesale power provider. State law requires that a portion of renewable energy come from swine and poultry waste.
O ’Dell Retires, Spencer Announced a s New Senior Vice President/Chief Administrative Officer
Blue Ridge Energy announces the retirement of Julie O’Dell, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, and the promotion of Crystal Spencer to now serve in these roles.
O’Dell, who is currently serving in a consulting capacity to the cooperative, is retiring after 23 years with Blue Ridge Energy. During that time, her responsibilities included overseeing human resources, strategy development, Board governance, safety, training, and organizational development. She is a certified graduate of Palladium Kaplan-Norton Balanced Scorecard strategy execution process and served as a master trainer for Touchstone Energy’s strategy execution curriculum.
A resident of Blowing Rock, O’Dell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee and has served on the local boards f or Habitat for Humanity and the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce.
Promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer is Ashe County native Crystal Spencer.
She joined Blue Ridge Energy in 2018 and led marketing and economic development efforts, with a focus on improving member and customer satisfaction across the cooperative and its subsidiaries. Prior to joining Blue Ridge Energy, Spencer led the marketing efforts at SkyLine/SkyBest for 12 years.
Spencer is a certified professional through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and a graduate of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Robert I. Kabat Management Internship Program and the E4 Carolinas Emerging Energy Leaders Program. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Gardner-Webb University and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a Park Fellow.
Spencer resides in Lenoir with her husband, Greg, also an Ashe County native. She most recently served on the board of directors for the Wig Bank of Caldwell County.
Julie O’Dell
Crystal Spencer
Who Owns What?
Blue Ridge Energy is always prepared to respond swiftly to outages and restore power safely, but it is also important for homeowners to understand which parts of the electric system are their responsibility and which are maintained by your cooperative. Understanding these key differences can help speed up repairs and ensure everyone stays safe when the weather turns rough.
Blue Ridge Energy is responsible for maintaining and repairing the equipment and lines that run to your home, including utility poles, distribution power lines, electric meters and pad-mounted transformers.
You, as a member, are responsible for the equipment located between the electric meter and your home or business, including any underground service lines that lead into the structure and the service panel. Members are also responsible for the weatherhead and service mast located outside the home.
If any equipment that you, as the homeowner, are responsible for is damaged, it’s important to note that any necessary repairs to your equipment must be conducted before Blue Ridge Energy crews can restore power to your home or business. To make
Katie Woodle
EDITOR
Renée R. Walker
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
Jacob Puckett
these repairs, please call a licensed electrician who has the experience and know-how to assess and manage these types of repairs.
By working together to understand the essential equipment that powers daily life, we can all be better prepared to start the repair and restoration process if severe weather impacts our community.
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