2026-08-BRE

August 2026

Reliable People.

Reliable Power.

You need reliable electricity at an affordable price.

What's needed to build and maintain the power delivery system that keeps your home or business running?

Turn the page to see a few of our favorite things.

PERIODICAL

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An Inside Look At

Providing Power You depend on safe, continuous power. With a 99.99% reliability rating, your cooperative invests in people and equipment to ensure you have the power you can count on.

HERE IS WHAT IT TAKES A dedicated team of line technicians, engineers and system operators and other behind-the-scenes employees.

Preparing Today for Tomorrow's Needs

Specialized equipment to ensure safety.

A fleet of vehicles, a top-notch delivery system and more to ensure you have safe, continuous power.

A right-of-way program that clears trees and vegetation away from the nearly 9,000 miles of power lines.

Building, maintaining and upgrading our power delivery system.

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Blue Ridge Energy invests in grid upgrades, equipment modernization, and preventative maintenance to strengthen system reliability and resilience. These improvements help reduce outages, speed restoration efforts, and ensure dependable service for our members and communities.

In addition, our linemen and the Systems Operations Center use advanced technologies such as SCADA systems, relays, mobile data platforms, and drones to help our crews assess damage faster and restore power more quickly after storms. This supports reliable service for our members and helps keep our communities powered and connected.

7/10/26 12:54 PM

August 2026

Brighter Building a

World

Published by

ENERGY SENSE

How your co-op collaborates to lower costs BLUE RIDGE ENERGY

PERIODICAL

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Learn how to lower summer energy bills

7/13/2026 12:59:19 PM

THERE’S A TREASURE IN YOUR BACKYARD You may not realize it, but your home is sitting on a free and renewable supply of energy.

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August 2026

15

carolinacountry.com | 15

8

17 FAVORITES

2 From Our Readers

8 Building a Brighter World North Carolina co-ops bring electricity to Guatemalan village

3 Up Front 4 Your Power 18 Carolina Adventures

Costs 15 Managing Across the Grid Electric co-ops have an important advantage in serving members with affordable, reliable power

19 Carolina Calendar 20 Carolina Gardens 23 Carolina Kitchen 24 Snapshots

17

Plugging in for Healthier Homes

24 Where is This?

A clean cooking initiative is changing lives

ON THE COVER

A group of 15 lineworkers from electric cooperatives across North Carolina brought power to a remote Guatemalan village in April. EnergyUnited linemen Blake Ledford (left) and Levi Walker are pictured here with a local mother and daughter. Learn more about the project throughout this issue.

If you spot this icon, there's more to see online. Visit our website or scan this QR code to access extra recipes, an event map and more.

SCAN TO READ

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READER | LETTERS THIS MONTH

International Electrification Reliable and affordable electricity, instantly available at the flip of a switch, is a modern convenience that’s easy to take for granted. Although some remember the days before electricity, for most it’s always been a part of life. As we discuss in this month’s issue, that’s not the case for millions of people across the world without access to electricity.

But a group of North Carolina electric co-op lineworkers recently traveled to Guatemala to move the needle just a bit, bringing life-changing power to a remote village. It’s an inspiring story, and I highly recommend the related video we reference on page 9. It was a tear-jerker for many in our office.

(ISSN 0008-6746) (USPS 832800) Volume 58, No. 8

Published monthly by

®

NC Electric Cooperatives

3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950 Scott Gates, CCC Editor Renee C. Gannon, CCC Senior Associate Editor Rue Reynold Editorial Assistant Jessica Armstrong Graphic Designer Tara Verna Creative Services Associate

—Scott Gates, editor

Donna Natosi Digital Strategist Dan Tomkiewicz Advertising Dan@carolinacountry.com

FROM OUR READERS

Protecting Wildlife

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the article “Where the Bison Once Roamed” by Lori Grosman (August 2026, page 8). In North Carolina — and sadly our entire country — where forests and wild places are disappearing at a rate never seen before, I found that article extremely heartwarming. Every time I hear of the new or last of any of our unique wild species being shot or trapped and killed by man, my heart hurts. Our wildlife is so much a large part of our unique heritage! It should be admired and helped, not destroyed for personal gain. Not only should we all protect it as it has become so vulnerable and totally exploited, but we should adapt to our time

and understand our responsibility to protect it.

I believe in giving life and rescuing the needy or threatened, not taking it, and we should always do our best to help and rescue them when in trouble … Stop living in the past. Custer is gone. The bison did not have to be. Should all our precious wildlife be hunted to extinction, once all are gone, most of us will live with great sadness and regrets. Large protected natural parks are needed desperately for our children to enjoy and appreciate the fact they were here first and belong in their natural homes. Let’ s grant them peace, total protection and life!

D. McPhail, a member of Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative

American Art

This photo of an America 250 mural was taken in my hometown Saint Pauls in Robeson County (I-95 at Exit 31). It was painted onto the side of The Mustard Seed Bible store by the railroad tracks downtown (along E Broad Street) to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

Lyndia Johnson, Saint Pauls, A member of Lumbee River EMC

Amadou Fall Executive Vice President & CEO Kristie Aldridge, CCC COO Warren Kessler Director of Brand Strategy North Carolina’s electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to 1 million homes and businesses.

The 26 electric cooperatives are each member-owned, notfor-profit and overseen by a board of directors elected by the membership.

Why Do We Send You Carolina Country Magazine?

Your cooperative sends you Carolina Country as a convenient, economical way to share with its members information about services, director elections, meetings and management decisions. The magazine also carries legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost.

Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Carolina Country on behalf of the membership at a cost of less than $5 per year.

Subscriptions: Individual subscriptions, $12 per year.

Schools, libraries, $6.

Carolina Country is available on digital cartridge as a courtesy of volunteer services at the NC Department of Cultural Resources, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Raleigh, NC 888-388-2460.

Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, NC, and additional mailing offices. Editorial offices: 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950. Carolina Country® is a registered trademark of the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Carolina Country, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950.

All content © Carolina Country unless otherwise indicated.

Contact us Phone:

919-875-3091

Mail:

3400 Sumner Blvd.

Raleigh, NC 27616-2950

Web:

carolinacountry.com

Social: Email:

CALL FOR VOTES

Carolina’s Finest Awards Get in those votes! The top finalists in each category for the 2026 Carolina’s Finest Awards are listed on page 21. Visit carolinacountry.com/finest and vote by Aug. 15 for a chance to win one of three $100 gift cards.

editor@carolinacountry.com

Change of address: Please contact your electric co-op or go online to carolinacountry.com/address Experiencing a power outage?

Please contact your electric co-op directly to ensure prompt service.

Visit carolinacountry.com/co-ops to find yours online.

2 | August 2026

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UP | FRONT

tives

-2950

A Powerful Opportunity to Serve

By Sammy Clark

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For more than 30 years, I’ve worked as a line was reminded that those simple things are not technician serving the members of Edgecombeavailable to everyone.

Martin County EMC. During that time, I’ve One of the most emotional moments came restored power after storms, helped build new when the project was completed and the lines and watched our communities grow. But community gathered to celebrate. Seeing the nothing in my career prepared me for what I excitement on the faces of the children and experienced this spring while volunteering in the gratitude from the families is something I Guatemala through North Carolina’s Brighter will never forget. They understood that elecWorld Initiative. tricity would do more than provide light. It Alongside 14 other electric cooperative volun- would create opportunities. Students would teers from across North Carolina, I traveled have better conditions for learning. The health to the village of El Plan clinic could better serve Nuevo Amanecer to help patients. Families would This trip reminded bring electricity to famihave new ways to cook, lies who had never had it work and improve their me that some of the before. Together, we built daily lives. things we value most aren't more than three miles The experience gave the things we own, but the of power line that would me a renewed appreciaopportunities we have to ultimately serve more than tion for the work we do 50 homes, a school, two every day as cooperative help others. churches and the village’s employees. Providing only health clinic. safe, reliable electricThe work itself was challenging, but it wasn’t ity is something we are proud to do for our the work that changed me. It was the people. members, but seeing firsthand what life is like As we spent time in the community, I was without it put that responsibility into a whole struck by how little many of the families had new perspective. compared to what we are accustomed to here in I returned home grateful — not only for the the United States. Yet despite having so little, opportunity to serve, but for the many blessings they were incredibly generous, welcoming we enjoy each day. This trip reminded me that and grateful. The children smiled constantly. some of the things we value most aren't the Neighbors helped one another without hesitathings we own, but the opportunities we have to tion. There was a strong sense of community help others. I will carry the memories of El Plan and appreciation for things many of us hardly Nuevo Amanecer with me for the rest of my think about from day to day. life, and I am proud to have represented North Like most people, I know I sometimes take Carolina’s electric cooperatives, Edgecombethings for granted. We flip on a light switch Martin County EMC, and the cooperative spirit without a second thought. We charge our that makes projects like this possible. phones, run appliances, watch television Sammy Clark is an engineering and operations and enjoy conveniences that have become a specialist for Tarboro-based Edgecombe-Martin normal part of everyday life. In Guatemala, I County EMC.

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YOUR | POWER

(Left) SurryYadkin EMC's groundbreaking ceremony (Right) Four County EMC CEO Don Gatton

Electric Co-ops Awarded Grant Funding to Strengthen Grid Under sunny skies during groundbreaking areas,” explained Surry-Yadkin EMC Assistant events this spring and summer, two electric General Manager Bryon Kennedy. cooperatives broke ground on grid resiliency “This project is not simply about replacing projects that will improve reliability on future infrastructure — it is about preparing the electric days when the weather may not be so fair. grid for the future while preserving the coopIn July, Dobson-based Surry-Yadkin EMC erative’s mission and North Carolina’s goal to partnered with the NC Department of provide affordable, reliable electricity,” said Environmental Quality (DEQ) State Energy Four County EMC CEO Don Gatton.

Office to kick off a grid In addition to these two improvement project, projects, DEQ is providing which will modernize funds for five others through These investments a competitive application 80-year-old infrastructure will harden the system, through transmission- and process. Included is Pantegodistribution-line upgrades. based Tideland EMC’s enhance reliability and Months earlier, DEQ joined Project Ocracoke Resiliency, ensure North Carolinians Burgaw-based Four County which aims to reduce power experience fewer and EMC to break ground on a outage time by installing shorter power outages.” similar project, upgrading a underground electrical lines 55-year-old section of grid in and equipment and relocatSampson County. ing some overhead lines. The Tideland EMC Both Surry-Yadkin EMC’s and Four County project will also support Ocracoke’s existing EMC’s initiatives — funded in part by $4.5 microgrid to further increase resiliency and million and $2.9 million DEQ grants, respecreliability. tively — will help reduce power outages, harden “Since 2025, DEQ has leveraged nearly the grid against severe weather and increase $30 million in federal, state and local funds to affordability, reliability, resiliency and energy make grid resilience investments,” said DEQ efficiency for local rural communities.

State Energy Office Director Julie Woosley.

“This grant funding is improving affordability “These investments will harden the system, for our member-owners and will aid in future enhance reliability and ensure North Carolinians economic and community development in these experience fewer and shorter power outages.”

What’s included in grid upgrade projects?

By replacing decades-old poles with stronger wood and engineered steel structures, updated conductors and cabling, electric cooperative members will benefit from: ® Fewer and shorter power outages;

® Reduced long-term maintenance expenses; and

® Stronger system performance during

® Greater infrastructure durability, with

severe weather;

lifespans to exceed 75 years.

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YOUR | POWER

QUICK HITS

NC Electric Co-ops Partner with Veteran Career Program This spring, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives hosted a contingent of veterans with The Honor Foundation for an introduction to the diverse career opportunities within the electric cooperative network. The Honor Foundation (honor.org) is a program for U.S. Special Operations Forces that helps them navigate the change from military to civilian life.

A tour of the Raleigh statewide office and presentations from employees provided an overview of potential career paths with electric cooperatives.

“North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have always believed in opening doors to opportunity in the communities we serve,” said NCEMC COO Chris VanLokeren during the event.

“Today, that commitment includes standing with our veterans as they transition to civilian life and new careers.

We connect your proven leadership, discipline and real-world skills to meaningful, rewarding careers where you can continue to serve and make an impact.”

North Carolina has one of the largest military footprints of any state in the country. With 14 major locations — 11 in cooperative utility communities — three service branches employ 130,000 active-duty military personnel. In addition, North Carolina hosts more than 670,000 military veterans, representing 7% of the total population.

The Honor Foundation’s impact extends across the entire U.S. Special Operations Forces enterprise, helping veterans navigate the change from military to civilian life through its transition program, seminars and career support services.

“We’re proud to partner with The Honor Foundation, creating missionaligned value for both organizations,” VanLokeren said. “Our shared principles of service, innovation and supporting our communities provide benefits to all involved and strengthen our family of cooperatives.”

® HOT CARS, SAFE KIDS Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended for any length of time and teach children that a vehicle is not a play area. Source: NHTSA.gov ® COOL PETS | The same goes for leaving pets unattended in cars—don’t do it. Rolling windows down or parking in the shade does little to change the interior temperature of a vehicle. ® LOVE FOR LEFT-HANDERS Aug. 13 is International LeftHanders Day, so show some love for the 10% who have to adapted to a world heavily designed for right-handed people. ® LAWN TAKEOVER | AngloSaxons called this time of year “Weodmonath,” meaning “Weed Month,” an eye-rolling moniker for when weeds grow the fastest.

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YOUR | POWER

Super El Niño is Here What it is, why it matters, and how it can impact local weather Meteorologists have been warning for months of a building “super El Niño” that’s just now getting started.

So, what is a super El Niño?

It’s an unusually intense warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean that can reshape weather patterns across the globe for months at a time. El Niño is part of the natural climate cycle in which sea-surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation in the Pacific swing between three phases: warm (El Niño), cool (La Niña), and neutral. When El Niño becomes exceptionally strong, often defined by a dramatic warming of 3 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit in the Pacific, its impacts tend to be extreme.

Historically, only a handful of events have reached the “super” category, and they are often remembered for major global disruptions. Here are some answers to frequent questions about what to expect from this weather event.

Q: How does a super El Niño change the atmosphere?

A: El Niño doesn’t “cause” a specific storm, but it loads the dice by adjusting large-scale patterns. Key mechanisms include the shifting of upper-level patterns that drive weather systems and reconfigured jet streams that bring increased storminess to some areas — and drought to others.

Q: How will it affect hurricane season this year?

A: A strong El Niño can influence tropical cyclone basins differently.

El Niño often increases upper-level westerly winds over the tropical Atlantic, boosting wind shear that can suppress hurricane formation and intensification (meaning would-be hurricanes blowing in from the east

do so against headwinds). That said, the Atlantic can still produce destructive storms in El Niño years.

Local ocean warmth and shortterm patterns can overcome the background signal. In the Pacific, the pattern typically becomes more favorable for hurricane activity, often shifting formation regions and tracks.

Bottom line: El Niño is a meaningful seasonal factor, not a guarantee.

by shifting the jet stream, so storm systems track across the Southern U.S. more often. Winter weather conditions we can expect are:

Q: Why does this El Niño seem so disruptive, and how will it impact North Carolina?

A: Even though El Niño is natural, today’s climate background is warmer than it used to be. That matters because warmer oceans fuel more storms, and a warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor, which can amplify rainfall rates when storms do form. This doesn’t mean “El Niño causes climate change,” but it does mean El Niño events play out on a different baseline than decades ago.

In North Carolina, a super El Niño most often shows up in early winter

® Snow is “boom-or-bust”: Seasonal

® Wetter: Higher odds of frequent

coastal lows and flooding episodes, though not constant rain.

® Milder: Fewer prolonged Arctic

outbreaks, especially compared to La Niña winters. snowfall often ends up near normal, but there’s a higher “big storm” potential if a coastal low teams up with a cold-air damming wedge in a classic North Carolina setup.

® Severe weather: Cool-season

severe risk can be higher than average with more Gulf moisture and stronger jet dynamics.

® Spring carryover: If the pattern

persists, early spring can stay unsettled and wet.

—Al Conklin is chief meteorologist for WBTV in Charlotte.

L

Low pressure

Extended Pacific jet stream, amplified storm track

Source: NOAA

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Building Communication, Confidence, and Critical Thinking for Tomorrow's Leaders.

Every young person has the potential to lead, innovate, and make a difference.

In North Carolina 4-H, youth discover that potential through hands-on experiences that challenge them to think critically, communicate effectively, and grow with confidence.

The 4-H experience looks different for every member. From agriculture and STEM to the arts, healthy living, and civic engagement, there are opportunities for youth with a wide range of interests. Some discover their passion through 4-H camp, others through Shooting Sports, livestock projects, or leadership opportunities like 4-H Congress. No matter the path, every experience is intentionally designed to help youth build life skills they will use long after their 4-H years.

Open to youth ages 5–18, 4-H is rooted in local communities through programs in all 100 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Membership is free, and most participation comes with little to no cost. Each year, more than 273,000 youth members participate with the support of over 15,000 adult volunteers. No matter where they live, youth can explore new interests, find their spark, and prepare for whatever comes next.

Through positive youth development and experiential learning, North Carolina 4-H is helping young people become Beyond Ready for college, careers, and life.

“

North Carolina 4-H provides young people with opportunities to discover their passions, develop essential life skills, and gain the confidence to lead. Whether through leadership, STEM, agriculture, community service, clubs, or camp, every 4-H experience helps prepare youth to communicate effectively, think critically, and become Beyond Ready for whatever the future holds."

—Dr. Shannon B. McCollum, Interim State 4-H Program Leader

North Carolina 4-H is the youth development program of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, a strategic partnership of NC State University, N.C. A&T State University, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), and local governments statewide.

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Josh Conner, NC Electric Cooperatives

Brighter Building a

World

NORTH CAROLINA CO-OPS BRING ELECTRICITY TO GUATEMALAN VILLAGE

BY JOSH CONNER

For generations, reliable access to electricity in the United States has been something many people rarely stop to consider. With the flip of a switch, lights come on, homes are powered and everyday life moves forward. But for 655 million people around the world, many in rural communities, that access remains out of reach.

In a remote village in northern Guatemala, electricity was once a distant possibility. That changed this spring when 15 lineworkers from electric cooperatives across North Carolina came together to help bring power to the El Plan Nuevo Amanecer community for the first time.

“You would think everybody would have power, but they don’t,” says Sammy Clark, a lineworker at Tarboro-based Edgecombe-Martin County EMC (see page 3). “We take it for granted.”

Volunteers from eight co-ops traveled more than 2,800 miles from home, carrying their mission of powering communities to a region with vastly different conditions than they’re used to.

“It’s nothing like I expected,” says Daniel Purvis, a lineworker from Dunn-based South River EMC. “You see pictures and videos of how people live here, but actually seeing it is eye-opening.”

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Josh Conner, NC Electric Cooperatives

Josh Conner, NC Electric Cooperatives

Watch a video to see volunteers reflect on their work in Guatemala and hear villagers’ reactions to receiving electricity for the first time.

Residents of the village relied on traditional methods: cooking over open fires, lighting their homes by flame and finding ways to preserve food without the benefit of electricity.

“It’s like stepping back in time,” says Levi Walker, a lineworker at Statesville-based EnergyUnited. “It reminds you of the stories of the first cooperatives that powered North Carolina. Seeing how these people live, how much they’ve overcome, is truly remarkable.”

For local residents, having power in their homes — something they had only experienced when visiting neighboring villages and larger cities — is an opportunity they have been waiting on for years.

“I’ve lived here for 17 years without power,” says Miriam, a resident of El Plan Nuevo Amanecer.

“First, we started with solar panels, and now, thank God, we’re going to have electricity.”

El Plan Nuevo Amanecer is in the Lachúa region of northern Guatemala, where most families rely on agriculture and day labor to

support their households. Now, with access to electricity, residents say they can expand their opportunities when it comes to earning a livelihood.

“Now we have the possibility of starting a business,” says Ricardo, a village resident. “We can work in the fields and keep our products in a fridge where they can be stored. We can do many things here in the countryside in order to survive.”

Over the span of three weeks, crews constructed three miles of line that powered more than 50 homes, a school, two churches and the community’s only health clinic. With no access to the bucket trucks and heavy machinery crews are used to back home, volunteers worked by hand, including lifting transformers weighing more than 300 pounds and pulling long spans of line across dense vegetation and rugged terrain.

“It was a real challenge,” says Sammy Welch, a lineworker at Forest City-based Rutherford

I’ve lived here for 17 years without power ... and now, thank God, we’re going to have electricity”

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Arturo Rivera Photography

You could feel the excitement as we got closer to finishing the job.”

EMC. “The heat here is unlike anything we face back home, along with not having all the tools we are used to. But what kept us going were the kids and the people, because they were so happy we were there. You could feel the excitement as we got closer to finishing the job.”

Alongside building the infrastructure that would power the village, crews also wired each building, providing four lights, two outlets and two switches.

“Back home, we have multiple lights, multiple switches, and that little bit is going to be life-changing for them,” says Josh Morrison, crew leader and lineworker at Monroe-based Union Power Cooperative. “They’ve lived their whole lives never seeing it, and it’s going to open up so many doors for them.”

The trip was coordinated through North Carolina Electric Cooperatives’ Brighter World Initiative, in partnership with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) International Foundation, which brings electricity to communities around the world. Additionally, the trip was made possible through contributions from CoBank and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation.

“In North Carolina, all the electric cooperatives are focused on improving the lives of our members and the communities we serve,” says Susan Flythe, CEO of Buxtonbased Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative.

“This is an extension of that. This is our Brighter World Initiative. Through this vision, we’re able to extend rural electrification to counties and communities that have never had electricity before.”

Along with electrifying the village, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives provided each home with a two-burner electric stovetop to replace smoky, irritating, open flames with a cleaner, safer cooking alternative for inside their homes (see page 17). Volunteers also supplied the community’s health clinic with essential medical supplies to serve the community.

At the conclusion of the three-week project, the village gathered to recognize the volunteers, presenting them with plaques and unveiling a sign in thanks for their efforts. Community leaders shared that access to electricity will change their lives, creating a brighter future for generations to come.

“You’d have to take a step back and say, ‘Well, it’s nothing but a lightbulb,’ but they don’t see it that way,” Sammy Clark says. “They’re just so happy to have it. I’ll never forget this project and working alongside this crew. It’s one of the greatest honors of my career.”

Josh Conner is the multimedia communications strategist for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives and traveled to Guatemala with lineworkers to document the project.

Jones-Onslow EMC Rutherford EMC South River EMC

Surry-Yadkin EMC Union Power Cooperative

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S N c o C h l h

K O i t l A o l

B S s m b t

The project is a collaborative initiative supported by all 26 electric cooperatives in North Carolina.

Volunteers for the project represent: Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative Edgecombe-Martin County EMC EnergyUnited

Y c S s f r R t

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embership M

08 TWENTY TWENTY SIX

MATTERS

How to L ower Summer Energy Bills Costs for cooling your home can make up a large portion of your summer electric bills. 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 help 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, crockpots, microwaves 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 guidelines).

•

Use solar lighting to brighten up walkways.

•

Replace light bulbs with LED versions.

Surge Into Savings Visit BlueRidgeEnergy.com/Save For More Tips

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THE

Perspective

Ser ving You Today, Preparing For Tomorrow From Blue Ridge CEO, Katie Woodle

This year marks an incredible milestone for Blue Ridge Energy — 90 years of serving the people and communities of northwest North Carolina. Since 1936, your cooperative has powered homes, supported local businesses and helped strengthen the communities we call home. While much has changed over those nine decades, our commitment to our members remains the same:making life better for those we serve, by providing reliable electricity at the lowest possible cost while maintaining the financial strength needed to serve you for generations to come.

That commitment guides every decision we make, including some of the most difficult ones.

Your cooperative is currently undergoing an extensive cost-of-service study. This is standard across the electric industry, but particularly crucial this year as we continue to see cost pressures impacting many aspects of our daily operations. While we do not have the results of this cost-of-service study as of the date this goes to press, we anticipate the results will show a need to make an adjustment to our rates sometime this fall.

Two main impacts initiated this cost-of-service study and our subsequent anticipation of a rate adjustment later this year. First, the cost of operating your cooperative continues to rise.

Like many businesses and organizations, we have experienced significant increases in the cost of equipment, materials, technology and other resources required to maintain and improve our electric system to provide reliable electricity for our members. Second, wholesale power costs — the cost of the electricity we purchase before it reaches your home or business, continue to increase. Wholesale power represents more than half of our operating expenses, making it one of the most significant factors affecting rates.

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Your cooperative has been working extensively behind the scenes to control expenses where possible. We continually look for ways to operate more efficiently, and we recently renewed our employee-led WorkSmart program to identify additional savings opportunities throughout the organization in our day-to-day operations.

Our subsidiary companies, Blue Ridge Energy Propane & Fuels and RidgeLink, also continue to play an important role by contributing earnings that are then used to help offset costs for our electric members. In 2025 alone, those subsidiaries generated $6.7 million in after-tax net benefit back to the parent cooperative — helping mitigate some of the challenges we’ve faced from a cost perspective.

Even with these efforts, inflationary pressures on the crucial components we use to provide reliable electricity, coupled with rising wholesale energy costs, have created challenges that can no longer be fully absorbed. While no one welcomes the likelihood of higher costs, this study helps ensure a rate structure exists that’s adequate for your cooperative to remain financially strong and able to continue investing in reliability, safety and the service you’ve come to expect at the most affordable cost possible.

Maintaining nearly 9,000 miles of electric infrastructure across our mountain region requires ongoing investment to keep power flowing safely and reliably to more than 80,000 members. We remain focused on the priorities that guide our cooperative: providing excellent service, maintaining that reliable power, operating efficiently, and making thoughtful decisions that balance affordability with the long-term needs of our members.

After 90 years, the heart of this cooperative remains as strong as ever. We are rooted in service, grounded in our values, and united by a shared purpose to make life better for the members and communities we serve.

7/10/26 12:53 PM

Teachers: Apply Now for Bright Ideas Grants!

In our 32nd 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 by providing learning opportunities that are not able to be funded by regular school budgets.

Board of Directors Update

Over 5,300 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 25.

Directors elected to serve three-year terms were: David Eggers, Caldwell district; Kelvin Gryder, Watauga district; David Boone, Ashe district; and John “Johnny” Wishon, 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: Johnny Wishon, president; James Burl (JB) Lawrence, vice president; Kelly Melton, secretary-treasurer; and Cindy Price, assistant secretary-treasurer.

Membership

Page 13

MAT TERS

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Students Awarded Scholarships Blue Ridge Energy recently awarded $32,000 in college scholarships to 12 students across its service areas who are seeking to further their academic goals. The scholarships are part of the Blue Ridge Energy Leadership Track program, designed to help high school students prepare for their future while strengthening their leadership skills. The program is one way the cooperative contributes to local quality of life.

Recipients in Caldwell County: Matthew Boyle, son of Steven and Sherri Boyle, received $2,000 to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Daniela Euceda, daughter of Mario and Ada Euceda, received $4,000 to attend Rice University.

Noah Livingston, son of Todd and Tina Livingston, received $2,000 to attend Lenoir Rhyne University, and Lucas Sanderlin, son of Sascha and Kami Sanderlin, received $2,000 to attend North Carolina State University.

In Watauga County: Leo McEvoy, son of David McEvoy and Marta Toran, received $3,000 to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Riley Olson, daughter of Dan and Carroll Olson, received $4,000 to attend the United States Air Force Academy.

In Ashe County: Ellie Cable, daughter of Wayne and Miranda Cable, received $3,000 to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Addison Dollar, daughter of Jeff and Amy Dollar, received $3,000 to attend Appalachian State University; Chloe Henson, daughter of Scott and Dana Henson, received $2,000 to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Addison Williams, daughter of Josh and Lindsey Williams, received $2,000 to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In Alleghany County: Hafize Bonilla, daughter of Hatice Yilmaz, received $4,000 to study at Wilkesboro Community College, and Talmage Pasley, son of Lucas and Iboya Pasley, received $1,000 to study at North Carolina State University.

For more information about the Blue Ridge Energy Leadership Track, visit BlueRidgeEnergy.com and click the “Community” tab, or contact Tasha Rountree, director of community relations and economic development, at 828-759-8994 or trountree@blueridgeenergy.com.

Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEnergy.com CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Katie Woodle EDITOR Renée R. Walker PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Jacob Puckett

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ENERGY | SENSE

Managing Costs Across the Grid U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Your electric cooperative has a unique and important advantage in serving its members with affordable, reliable electricity: the strength of a statewide network. By working closely together—leveraging their collective strength and sharing innovative ideas—North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives are able to manage costs across the grid.

Collective Buying Power The state’s electric cooperatives pool their buying power through the Tarheel Electric Membership Association (TEMA). By working together, co-ops reduce the impact of rising material costs on everything from poles and wires to energy storage projects.

Meeting Growing Demand Demand for power is growing nationally.

Co-ops work to negotiate the best possible contracts on large power purchases and manage peak demand every day. Decades ago, electric co-ops formed the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC) to help manage generation and transmission needs. Today, NCEMC owns power generation plants, purchases power through contracts, identifies innovative energy projects and coordinates transmission resources for its members.

Innovative Resource Management North Carolina’s electric co-ops are national leaders in collective management of 600 megawatts of distributed energy resources, including battery storage sites, microgrids, solar projects and member-owned generation.

Advocating for Affordability NC electric co-ops advocate at the General Assembly and in Washington, D.C., in coordination with their trade association, the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives (NCAEC). Together they form a powerful voice on issues that affect rural communities and power affordability.

Over the course of their history, NC co-ops have formed organizations to support the work they do, each with its own governing board of directors made up of representatives from each member co-op. Today, this family of organizations— NCEMC, NCAEC and TEMA—is collectively known as North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

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Story by Erin Kelly

Residents of a remote Guatemalan village will no longer have to fill their small homes with toxic smoke every time they cook, thanks to life-changing electricity brought to them by volunteers from North Carolina’s electric cooperatives.

In the village of El Plan Nuevo Amanecer near the Mexican border, women and girls were cooking over flaming wood fires, breathing in thick smoke that irritated their eyes and lungs and lingered inside their houses.

“Several of the children have this kind of chronic cough that you would hear throughout the village,” says Cara Johnson, who is working with North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives as an Energy Innovator Fellow through the Department of Energy.

Solving the problem became part of the mission for Cara and volunteers from eight North Carolina co-ops who traveled to Guatemala to construct more than three miles of line by hand, wiring 55 homes to receive electricity for the first time (see page 8). Residents were able to quickly put that power to use with new two-burner, plug-in Black+Decker stovetops, purchased from a local supplier.

Cara, who is fluent in Spanish, educated residents about the health and safety benefits of the electric stovetops.

“I spent the majority of the trip speaking with the women in their homes, learning about their lives and families and gaining their trust. They even taught me how to make tortillas by hand,” she says. “Most of the houses are about 20 feet by 20 feet spaces with no interior walls, so there’s one room to live, eat, cook and sleep in. There’s no ventilation, so the smoke from the fire just collects and sits in the air. When you walked

Josh Conner, NC Electric Cooperatives

A clean cooking initiative is changing lives

Arturo Rivera Photography

Plugging in for Healthier Homes

in, your eyes and throat would burn. And the temperature was already upwards of 90 degrees in April, even without the fire.”

Adults in the village talked about how much electricity would improve their children’s lives.

“There was an 80-year-old gentlemen who was completely blind and would sit on a hammock every day and talk about what the village was like when he was a kid,” says Josh Conner, multimedia communications strategist for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, who traveled to Guatemala to document the project. “He Not only were we bringing said one of the biggest electricity, but we were things that electricity is giving the community a going to do is keep the kids tangible resource they could from moving away because use with that electricity there’s more opportunity that will improve their there for them now.”

One mother said the health and hopefully their new electric stovetop will children’s futures.” improve her children’s health and prevent them from getting badly burned like she did.

“Half of her eye was burnt from flames that blew into her face on a windy day as she was cooking over her open fire stove,” Cara says.

“She didn’t want that same thing to happen to her daughters.”

“The clean-cooking initiative felt meaningful beyond just the kitchen,” she adds. “Not only were we bringing electricity, but we were giving the community a tangible resource they could use with that electricity that will improve their health and hopefully their children’s futures.”

Erin Kelly is a staff writer for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

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Climb the 80-foot-tall Monadnock Tower in Snow Camp to survey the rolling hills and forests of the Cane Creek Mountains Range.

(Right) The Textile Heritage Museum in historic Glencoe details the history of the industry.

Piedmont Lagacy Trails

CAROLINA | ADVENTURES

Surprises Await in Alamance County A history of revolution shaped these vibrant Piedmont communities

By Renee C. Gannon

In the 1700s, Alamance County was still part of Orange County, not having its own county borders until 1849. But the growing community would find itself at the forefront of two revolutions: America’s fight for independence and the economic juggernaut of the textile industry.

Now just a whisper of its former dominance, the textile industry that built this region created a culture that has grown into a vibrant area offering a well-rounded day trip for visitors.

Alamance Battleground Before the first shots were fired in America’s battle for independence, NC farmers formed associations in the 1760s to protest local government corruption. These Regulators aired their grievances against excess taxes, illegal fees and corrupt officials. In 1771, Regulators gathered in a field just south of Alamance Village and unsuccessfully engaged with Governor William Tryon’s British militia.

Visitors to the Alamance Battleground State Historic Site walk the battlefield between the British lines at the visitor center and the Regulator lines near what is now Highway 62.

Lisa Cox, the historic interpreter at the site, weaves a tale of exasperated farmers fighting for equal justice under British rule and the battle’s aftermath. She notes that most Regulators remained loyal to Britain — even fighting for the British — and simply wanted equal treatment.

Textiles to trails A few miles away from the battleground sits the Alamance County Historical Museum, within the 19th century home of the Holt family.

Textile pioneer Edwin Holt helped build the economic engine that would add more than 50 mills to the region. His “Alamance Plaid” was the first commercially woven colored cotton fabric made in the American South. Later, nearby Haw River would become the “Corduroy Capital of the World.” The Textile Heritage Museum in historic Glencoe, near Glencoe Mills, details the history of the industry, as does the local town museums and along the Textile Heritage Trail.

The Haw River powered the textile mills and now powers a burgeoning outdoor industry. The Haw River Paddle Trail offers 14 access points

18 | August 2026

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CAROLINA | CALENDAR Haw River Trail.org

Events: August Marlins Baseball 01 Big Rock Stadium 252-269-9767

International Black Theatre Festival Various locations, Winston-Salem | 336-723-2266

K9s in Flight Frisbee Dogs Aug. 1–2

Tweetsie Railroad 828-264-9061

Horn in the West

Cedar Island Resort 252-422-5141

Naturalist Day 08 Junior Grandfather Mountain, Linville 828-733-2013 Participating potters, Seagrove 336-879-4145

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Manteo | 252-473-6000 Aug. 1–23

Renee C. Gannon is the senior associate editor for Carolina Country magazine.

Aug. 7–9

Tea with Seagrove Potters

INTERTWINED

Small town charm After hiking or visiting the past, the area’s downtowns offer local shops, breweries and eateries to satisfy every taste.

And a historic ride awaits young and old at the Burlington City Park: on the restored 1910 Dentzel Menagerie Carousel. Choose from a cat, an ostrich, lion or horse (with real horsehair tails) — just a few of the 46 unique handcarved animals to relive your childhood. And not to be overlooked at the park, ride on the mini classic diesel-powered train — an appropriate ride for a town built by the railroad industry and once known as “Company Shops.”

Sarah James Fulcher Redfish Tournament

Daniel Boone Park 828-264-2120

Aug. 1–22

to the river as it flows through the county and passes towns the river helped build (the entire trail covers five counties). The paddle trail is part of the Haw River Trail corridor, 80 miles of paddle and hiking trails from Haw River State Park to Jordan Lake State Recreational Area.

Want a view above the river and trees?

Head to Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area in Snow Camp and hike to the Monadnock Tower via either the Northern Approach Trail or the Lookout Trail, two of the 10 trails available. Climb 80 feet to survey the rolling hills and forests of the Cane Creek Mountains Range, which boasts the highest peak east of Greensboro at 987 feet.

Berkley Barn, Ocracoke 252-921-0283

Aug. 1–8

“The Lost Colony” Outdoor Drama Find this article online, with links to local destinations to help plan your trip.

Fig Festival 07 Ocracoke Aug. 7–8

Hillsborough Gallery of Arts 919-732-5001

Cannon Day Aug. 1–Sept. 5

Demonstrations, storytelling Fort Macon State Park 252-726-3775

Duck Race Festival 15 Lions Riverview Lions Sheets 336-620-5581

Monster Trucks Carteret County Speedway 252-436-7223

Hot Nights Cool Rides Car Show Historic Main Street, Forest City 828-447-1730

BeachBlast Festival 21 NC Aug. 21–22 Patriots Park, Kings Mountain

and Forest Therapy 22 Nature Grandfather Mountain, Linville 828-733-2013

SCAN TO SUBMIT

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT

Visit carolinacountry.com/calendar for more information about each event, including links to the most current information, or to submit your own event.

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CAROLINA | GARDENS

The Lilies of August Take your pick of late-blooming hostas Royal Standard hosta

Story and photos by L.A. Jackson

LA’S WEBSITE OF THE MONTH

Nurseries Caroliniana (nurcar.com) is a South Carolina-based e-nursery specializing in perennials, vines and woodies, with particularly large selections of camellias and osmanthuses.

When there is a need for foliage plants with the elegance to doll up semi-shady spots in the landscape, gardeners often turn to hostas — durable summertime performers that can be counted on for lasting visual interest with their various textures and subtle hues.

However, starting in August, some hostas seem to want even more attention, so they stretch long stalks above their leaves and begin to flower. And not only are these blooms welcome sights for eager eyes in the perennial shade garden that typically goes into a flowerless funk during the high heat of a scorching summer, but the nose knows of their presence because they are also fragrant.

Wait … hostas that bloom in late summer? And they’re fragrant? Welcome to the nifty niche of hostas often tagged as “August lilies.”

I’m not breaking any new ground here. These so-called August lilies are old-school hostas that originated in southern China and migrated to America in the early 1800s.

Botanically grouped in Hosta plantaginea, they became instant hits in the South due to their heat tolerance and ability to cast scented spells in gardens on warm afternoons of waning summers.

As with many plants that become popular with gardeners, H. plantaginea has been tinkered with by breeders looking for improvements, but most mutated and hybridized forms still retain the good ol’ August lily charm of late-blooming, scented flowers. While white is the typical color of these bell-shaped beauties, some have also been tinted with light purple hues.

Today, although many variations have been created, there

GARDEN TO-DO’S FOR

are only about two dozen selections of August lilies generally available to the gardening public. But this doesn’t make them hard to find. Heck, I bought the classic “Royal Standard,” which has been around for ages, at a big box home improvement store.

Other August lilies that can be found with minimal searching include the popular “Guacamole” showing off sassy avocado-colored leaves; “So Sweet,” the 1996 Hosta of the Year with foliage that shimmers in shades of cream and green; and “Sugar Babe,” a petite, variegated pretty with scented, amethyst-streaked blossoms.

Online hunting will find other selections for sale, of course, but try local garden centers first because they, too, know well the dreamy appeal of these enchanting lilies of August.

L.A. Jackson is the former editor of Carolina Gardener Magazine.

Augus t

The pursuit of perfectly shaped, home-grown tomatoes can be spoiled at this time of year by a nastiness known as cracking. This is marked by concentric, unappetizing rings circling tomato tops, or vertical splits along the sides of ripening fruits. It usually occurs when a big rain falls after an extended dry spell. So much water suddenly available to tomato plant roots can cause fruits to expand quickly and literally break right out of their skins. Heavily mulching your plants will help steady the ground moisture supply, and a regular watering schedule when the rains don’t come will also help prevent cracking. ® Continue harvesting mature cucumbers, squash, green beans, tomatoes and okra at least once a week to encourage more and more production from your summer edibles.

® Looking to add more horticultural snap-crackle-pop to your midsummer garden? Check out local botanical gardens, arboretums and even garden centers to see what kinds of plants are showing off the best during these hazy, lazy days of August.

20 | August 2026

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We’re pleased to announce the top finalists from each category, nominated by our readers.

These are the best of the best, but we want to know your top picks! Winners of the 2026 Carolina’s Finest Awards will be featured in our November 2026 issue.

BBQ Restaurant Lexington Barbecue  Parker's Barbecue, Wilson  Skylight Inn BBQ, Ayden

Landmark  The Biltmore Estate  Cape Hatteras Lighthouse  Wright Brothers National Memorial

Festival  Lexington Barbecue Festival  Lincoln County Apple Festival  Livermush Festival, Marion  NC Pickle Festival, Mt. Olive

Lore/Legend  Blackbeard’s Ghost  Brown Mountain Lights  The Maco Light NC Product  Blue Mist Barbecue Sauce  Hatteras Saltworks Pure Sea Salt  Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies

Main Street/Downtown  Boone  Lexington  Mount Airy Musician/Band  The Avett Brothers  Band of Oz  Le Salty Dead

Seafood Restaurant  Mayflower Seafood, multiple locations  Ocean View Seafood, Lexington  Pier 41 Seafood, Lumberton  Provision Company, Southport Winery  Childress Vineyards, Lexington  Duplin Winery, Rose Hill  Shelton Vineyards, Dobson  WoodMill Winery, Vale

Salon/Barbershop  City Barber Shop, Marion  Floyd’s City Barber Shop, Mount Airy  Sunshine Hair Designs, Tarboro

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Vote on the finest in each category at CarolinaCountry.com/Finest by August 15 for a chance to win one of three $100 gift cards

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. To enter, complete online entry form at carolinacountry.com/finest, or mail in your nominations to Carolina Country’s Finest, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616, for a chance to win. All contact information will remain confidential. One entry per person, drawn by random; odds of receiving one (1) of the three $100 gift cards depend upon number of entries received. Entries must be submitted by Aug. 15, 2026. Random drawing will take place after Aug. 16, 2026.

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7/13/2026 12:31:48 PM

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CAROLINA | KITCHEN

Culinary Adventurist Wendy Perry (WendyPerry.com) is a home economist, blogger and NC food artisan.

Honey Crunch Peach Chiffon Pie Light, fluffy and plumb full of peach flavor, this chilled pie is nestled in a sweet honey-crunch crust for a simple no-cook dessert that tastes like summer.

Chilled Southwest Vegetable Lasagna (No Cook) Turn those ovens off and savor cool meals on hot summer days. Overload on the abundance of garden goodies with this easy recipe. Makes a colorful side or main dish.

Cilantro Pesto Ricotta 1 cup ricotta cheese ½ cup packed fresh cilantro 2–3 large garlic cloves ½ cup sliced almonds 2–3 tablespoons avocado or olive oil Juice of ½ lime ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper Blend in food processor until smooth and creamy. Chill.

Lasagna 1–2 large zucchini (8 thin slices) 1 large English cucumber (8 thin slices) About 1½ cups salsa Kernels cut from 2 ears of corn Several sweet mini peppers, sliced into thin rings ¾ cup shredded Colby Jack cheese ¾ cup crumbled queso fresco Chopped cilantro Chili powder and cumin Slice zucchini and cucumber very thin lengthwise, preferably with a mandolin. Layer between paper towels to remove excess moisture.

Spoon a little salsa on a platter.

Arrange a layer of zucchini and cucumber (on top of each other) over salsa on platter. Spread half with a thin layer of pesto ricotta and spoon over a little salsa. Fold over the cuke and zucchini and repeat layers of ricotta and salsa. Scatter with corn, peppers and cheeses.

Garnish with cilantro and a light dusting of cumin and chili powder.

Chill 30 minutes before serving.

Yield: 4–8 servings FROM YOUR KITCHEN

Pepián de Pollo This chicken stew recipe is Guatemala's national dish and was recommended

by Arturo Rivera, the Guatemalan photographer who helped document North Carolina’s Brighter World initiative in 2026.

(See page 8.)

Submit your recipe online at: carolinacountry.com/myrecipe Contributors whose recipes are published will receive $25.

1 box (12-ounce) honey granola type cereal (we used Honey Bunches of Oats) 1 stick salted butter, softened 2 tablespoons peach gelatin powder ¹/₃ cup cold water 3 cups fresh or frozen peeled peaches, setting aside a few for garnish 2 tablespoons orange juice ½ cup sweetened condensed milk 2–3 tablespoons sugar as needed 1 pint heavy whipping cream, whipped to soft peaks Yellow and red food coloring, optional (3 parts yellow + 1 part red) For the crust, roughly crumble cereal with butter in a food processor.

Spread into a 9-inch pie plate and refrigerate.

Scatter gelatin over cold water in a small bowl and let stand for 5 minutes to “bloom” and become spongy.

Purée peaches with juice and condensed milk. Blend in bloomed gelatin until smooth. Taste and add sugar if needed, depending on sweetness of peaches.

Gently fold in half of the whipped cream. Leave as is or add a few drops of food coloring for a deeper peach color.

Spoon filling into crust and chill 4–6 hours.

Garnish with peaches and serve with remaining whipped cream.

Yield: 8 slices

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CAROLINA | SNAPSHOTS

1

3

2

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A member of Tideland EMC

2 Elizabeth Castaneda, Louisburg 3 Lynette Carlston, Beaufort, A member of Carteret-Craven EC

4 Karee Smith, Mount Holly, A member of EnergyUnited Send us your best shots based on an upcoming theme—we’ll pay $25 for those published. Submit high resolution digital photos and find full terms and conditions at carolinacountry.com/snapshots (no emails, please). We retain reprint and online rights for all submissions.

Upcoming Themes: October: Candy Craze | November: Holiday Dish | December: Winterscapes

where

in Carolina Country is this?

Send your answer by Aug. 15, with your name, address and the name of your electric cooperative.

Online: carolinacountry.com/where By mail: Where in Carolina Country? 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616 Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. The winner, chosen at random and announced in our October issue, will receive $25.

Have a roadside gem you’d like to share? Submit a photo, plus a brief description and general location information, at carolinacountry.com/where.

The June “Where Is This” photo by Carolina Country’s Renee Gannon shows the Old Orange County Courthouse and its Tower Clock on the corner of King and Churton Streets in downtown Hillsborough.

Given as a gift from King George III to St. Matthews Church in 1766, the clock was moved about two blocks to the courthouse once it was built in 1844. Many claim it is the “oldest continuous-running tower clock in America.” The clock has seen its share of history in Hillsborough, a hotbed of Regulator protests and battles against the British before and during the Revolutionary War, including the hanging of six Regulators captured at the Battle of Alamance and marched to the town for trial and execution in 1771. Check out visithillsboroughnc.com for more on the town’s history. The winning entry chosen at random from all correct submissions came from Sarah Shore of Hillsborough, a Piedmont Electric member.

24 | August 2026

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BET TER TOGETHER:

The Cooperative Advantage 26

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives work hard to provide reliable, affordable power at the cost of doing business. The state’s 26 not-for-profit co-ops collectively manage costs and pool our buying power for the benefit of the 2.8 million people we serve. Co-op employees are active members of the places we serve—your neighbors, friends, and family. We’re here to keep the lights on and the community strong, because this is our home, too.

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7/8/2026 7/8/26 12:59:21 11:53 PMAM

N r s a p o f s

Budget Billing

can help manage energy bills Avoid surprises on your energy bills with our Budget Billing option.

Budget Billing lets you distribute your expenses evenly over the year.

You make equal monthly payments for 11 months, and in the 12th month, the account is "evened up" to reflect any differences, resulting in either a final payment due or a credit issued.

Better still, this service is FREE!

Sign up today and relax through the year!

Visit BlueRidgeEnergy.com/ Budget-Billing or call us at 1-800-451-5474.

Keep life's changes under control with Budget Billing.

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LOCAL STUDENTS REPRESENT OUR AREA AT THE CAPITOL This community matters, and your not-for-profit cooperative is developing leadership to help ensure the future of our local communities.

Local high school students (Front left to right), Brianna Gonzalas of Caldwell County and Lily (Lillian) Olsen of Watauga County. (Back left to right), Patrick Tucker and June Mongano both of Alleghany County and Ethan Lea of Ashe County represented Blue Ridge Energy on a life-changing trip to Washington, D.C. in June. As Electric Cooperative Youth Tourists, they met with their government representatives, toured historical locations and learned about the cooperative business model along with other youth tourists from across the country.

Learn more about youth opportunities at BlueRidgeEnergy.com/OurFuture Blue Ridge-0826 WRAP.indd 4

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