embership M
11
TWENTY TWENTY SIX
MATTERS
Smar t Ways To Save On Winter Energy Bills Cold weather is on the way — and with it comes higher energy use from heating, extra lighting, holiday cooking and entertaining guests. A few simple steps can help keep your bill in check this winter! Easy Energy-Saving Tips •
Set your thermostat wisely: Keep it at the lowest comfortable setting.
•
Let the sun work for you: Open curtains on sunny days for free warmth; close them at night to keep heat in.
•
Run appliances efficiently: Only wash full loads in dishwashers and laundry machines; use cold water when possible.
•
Cut hot water use: Shorten showers to save on water heating costs.
•
Flip the switch: Turn off lights when you leave a room.
Payment Options to Fit Your Budget •
FlexPay: Pay smaller amounts daily or weekly — no deposits or late fees. Just maintain a positive balance to keep power flowing.
•
Budget Billing: Enjoy predictable bills! Pay a set amount for 11 months, then “even up” on the 12th month with a credit or balance.
Need Help Paying Your Bill? We’re here to help: •
Contact Blue Ridge Energy for payment arrangement options ahead of due dates.
•
Reach out to your local social services agency to apply for assistance through Operation Round Up®, as well as state and federal programs.
Track Your Usage, Take Control Knowing when and how you use electricity can make a big difference so that you can reduce usage throughout the month and avoid surprises on your bill. Use our free Usage Tracker at BlueRidgeEnergy.com under My Account > Usage Tracker, or check “Usage Details” on the Blue Ridge Energy app.
For more tips, visit BlueRidgeEnergy.com/Save
Blue Ridge-1126.indd 15
10/9/26 3:55 PM
THE
Perspective From Blue Ridge CEO Katie Woodle
A Common Connec tion More than 90 years ago, neighbors across the foothills and High Country came together to accomplish something extraordinary: bringing electricity to communities that others overlooked. In doing so, they established something even more enduring than poles and power lines. They built a member-owned cooperative, and a local connection founded on trust, shared values, and a commitment to improving life for the people who call this region home. That same connection continues to define Blue Ridge Energy today. Connecting You to More Than Electricity Every day, electricity powers the moments that matter, from brewing your morning coffee to keeping families comfortable and businesses running. While our line technicians play a visible and essential role in delivering reliable service, they are part of a much larger team of local professionals dedicated to serving you. Behind every service call, payment, engineering project, and restoration effort is a neighbor who lives and works in the same communities we serve. These employees are the heart of our cooperative, and they help create a member experience that sets Blue Ridge Energy apart. A Cooperative Difference You Can Feel For generations, we’ve believed that serving our members means being present, accessible, and invested in the communities
Page 16
we share. Doing business with Blue Ridge Energy doesn’t mean reaching a call center hundreds of miles away or navigating an impersonal system. When we talk about the “cooperative difference,” this is what we mean. It means remaining rooted in the communities we serve. It means doing more than what is expected. Most importantly, it means standing beside our members when they need us most. Throughout our history, we’ve faced challenges together. We rebuilt after Hurricane Hugo. We weathered blizzards and ice storms. Two years ago, we came together in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, demonstrating the resilience and strength that define our communities. I want you to know that our commitment extends beyond restoring power after a storm. When families face financial hardships, we’re here to help connect them with assistance programs and payment options. When members are looking for ways to manage energy use and lower costs, we’re here with practical guidance and resources. When questions arise, we’re here with local support from people who genuinely care. Being your cooperative means more than delivering electricity. It means providing a connection you can count on, one built by neighbors serving neighbors. It’s a connection that has strengthened our communities for more than nine decades, and one that will continue to power our future together.
Membership MAT TERS
Blue Ridge-1126.indd 16
10/9/26 3:55 PM
Ridge Woodle
Bylaws Updated At a recent meeting of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation’s Board of Directors, amendments to the Cooperative’s Bylaws were approved. A summary of key approved Bylaws changes are as follows:
Section 2.05 Voting: clarifies how a member may revoke a proxy, if desired, during elections of the Board of Directors candidates and aligns voter eligibility with the record date.
Section 2.06 Proxies: aligns proxy eligibility with the record date and suspended-member language in Section 2.05 and states that the Director Proxies’ authority includes only those proxies that expressly authorize the Director Proxies to act on the member’s behalf.
Section 2.07 Credentials & Elections Committee: states the Credentials & Elections Committee will be responsible for ensuring Director elections are conducted not only in accordance with the Cooperative’s Bylaws but also North Carolina law, including, but not limited to, approving the proxy and ballot to be used for an election and approving the form of any materials such as biographical information of candidates; adds that former Cooperative employees, agents, officers, and directors (and close relatives thereof) are not eligible to serve on the Credentials & Elections Committee; and adds that drawing by lot shall resolve any tie votes if necessary.
Section 3.02 Qualifications: an addition to state that if any person already holding a Directorship or other position of trust in the Cooperative lacks eligibility as listed in this Section of the Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall determine whether the loss of eligibility is curable within a reasonable timeframe or whether removal is required to protect the Cooperative or comply with its Bylaws and applicable law.
Section 3.06 Nominations: an addition that the Nominating Committee’s decision shall be final; that former Cooperative employees, agents, officers, and directors (and close relatives thereof) are not eligible to serve on the Nominating Committee; that drawing by lot shall resolve any tie votes if necessary; and that the Committee may not act on any matter unless a majority of Committee members are present in person.
Section 3.08 Removal of Directors: clarifies that the removal of a Director under the circumstances outlined in this section requires the affirmative vote of the majority of members present at the hearing and clarifies that the Board should proceed under Section 3.02 when eligibility issues arise outside the member-petition removal process.
Section 4.01 Regular Meetings: an addition that regular meetings, upon proper notice as stated elsewhere in the Bylaws, may also be held via telephone conference call, video conference, or other electronic means, if all Directors provide consent.
Section 4.02 Special Meetings: an addition that special meetings, upon proper notice as stated elsewhere in the Bylaws, may also be held via video conference or other electronic means, if all Directors provide consent.
Section 4.03 Notice of Directors’ Meetings: adds provision allowing electronic notice of Board meetings and updates language to reference the video conference option for Board meetings.
Section 4.05 Action Without a Meeting: an addition to include that except as otherwise limited by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken unanimously by all Directors and is evidenced by one or more written or electronic consents.
Continued on next page...
Page 17
Blue Ridge-1126.indd 17
10/9/26 3:55 PM
Carpenter A ppointed to Fill Open Caldwell Distric t Seat The Board of Directors of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation has appointed Jason Carpenter to fill the Caldwell District Board seat that was left open with the passing of Jeff Joines earlier this year. Carpenter will complete the seat’s three-year term, which began on June 24, 2025, and runs through June 2028. He began his duties with the Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation Board of Directors on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. Article III Section 3.09 of the Cooperative’s Bylaws requires the Board of Directors to appoint a replacement director for the open seat whenever there are one or more years remaining in the term. The Board also follows all Bylaw requirements for director qualifications as stated in Article III Section 3.02. Carpenter lives in the Patterson community of Caldwell County. He is a Partner at Combs, Tennant & Carpenter, P.C., a professional certified public accounting firm in Boone. He has served as a past member of Blue Ridge Energy’s Member Advisory Committee in Caldwell District. In that role, he also served on the cooperative’s Credential and Election Committee, Nomination Committee, and is a past member of the Blue Ridge Energy Members Foundation Advisory Committee. Carpenter has spent over 22 years in public accounting with a focus on tax, audit and financial statement presentation. A certified public accountant, he is a member of the American Institute of Public Accountants and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. He is also a Government Audit Quality Control firm designee. His involvement in the community includes serving as a Finance Committee member with the Watauga Children’s Council. Carpenter holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Accounting, and a second Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Computer Information Systems.
Continued: Bylaws Updated Section 5.01 Number & Title: clarifies the definition and composition of the Cooperative’s Corporate Officer’s Group and Board Officers. Section 5.02 Election & Term of Office: adds a runoff process for Board Officer elections and adds that drawing by lot shall resolve any tie votes if necessary. Section 8.01 Waiver of Notice: adds that a member or Director can waive by affirmative vote any notice of any meetings required by the Bylaws. Certificate of Incorporation: changes references from “Articles of Incorporation” to “Certificate of Incorporation” for the sake of accuracy in Sections 1.01(c), 1.11, 1.12, and 7.10. Board Resolutions: clarifies that the Board has authority to adopt resolutions relating to patronage capital in Sections 7.01(b); 7.03(f), (i), (k), (l), and (n); 7.04(a) and (b); and 7.10. Redline versions indicating all changes as well as final Bylaws can be found online at BlueRidgeEnergy.com/CorpDocs or by contacting the Cooperative for a hard copy.
Blue Ridge-1126.indd 18
10/9/26 3:55 PM