matters
SEPTEMBER 2013
MEMBERSHIP
A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM BLUE RIDGE ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
Did you know...
Energy efficiency is the best way to minimize current cost pressures? Check out free tools under the ÂGreenSmart tab at BlueRidgeEMC.com and MyUsage.com.
Average member will see additional $2.70 beginning October 2013
Wholesale power increases lead to rate adjustment Doug Johnson. “Our agreement with Duke Energy provides the lowest-cost wholesale power in the marketplace; however, Duke’s costs — like all other electric utilities nationwide — are rising due to environmental compliance, replacing older coal plants with cleaner Beginning in October, the typical Blue Ridge member will see an additional technology power generation; and upgrading aging power Blue Ridge Electric is working to keep the systems,” explained impact as low as possible for our members. Johnson. Rising wholesale power costs are driving the need for an overall 2.5 percent rate adjustment approved after thorough study by the Blue Ridge Electric board of directors.
$2.70 on their monthly electric bill. None of the increase is due to the cooperative’s operational costs. “We’re committed to providing the lowest cost, most reliable electricity to our members,” said Chief Executive Officer
BlueRidge-0913.indd 21
To help shield members from rising costs, Blue Ridge Electric has reduced operational expenses by managing its own wholesale power agreements; using profits from two subsidiary companies to help hold down rates; and involving employees in a WorkSmart
effort that to date has implemented ideas worth $3 million in avoided costs that members did not have to pay. Blue Ridge Electric wants to help members keep their bills as low as possible even with current cost pressures. Energy efficiency is the best way to do that. Free tools including a customized online energy audit are available at BlueRidgeEMC.com. If a member doesn’t have Internet access, call the local district office for a member representative to conduct the audit over the phone. Blue Ridge Electric also offers energy saving videos, tips and a free electricity monitoring tool at MyUsage.com. Energy Savers booklets are also available in local district offices.
8/12/13 11:17 AM
the
perspective From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson
Working to manage costs in a rising costs environment As a cooperative we exist to provide atcost electricity and look out for the best interests of our members, so it’s never easy to pass along increases. We’re pleased, however, that the upcoming rate adjustment of 2.5 percent is lower than what we see coming from many other utilities. Cost increases for wholesale power are affecting utilities and consumers nationwide. Blue Ridge Electric is working hard to keep members’ bills as low as possible as we address this challenge. This is a long-term effort because the cost pressure is significant and coming from three key areas: cost of environmental regulations, closing old coal plants and construction of replacements, and upgrading our nation’s aging transmission power system. Complying with the growing number of environmental regulations on state and federal levels is very expensive. Billions of dollars have been spent by utilities required to meet multiple environmental protection rules, such as the North Carolina Smokestacks Act and Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard, and the federal Clean Air and Clean Water acts. These rules are having an impact: our environment is cleaner today according to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. But the work — and cost — continue. For example, old coal plants cannot meet new environmental requirements so they’re being Page 22
BlueRidge-0913.indd 22
closed and replaced by building new, more expensive power generation plants. Also putting cost pressure on electricity prices is the need for our nation to make significant investments in upgrading an aging power transmission system. Highvoltage transmission lines and equipment are very expensive, but utilities must invest now to continue powering our way of life and our economy. Because wholesale power makes up 60 percent of our costs, the best way we can help keep members bills as low as possible is with our wholesale power agreement with Duke Energy Carolinas. We’ve secured the best wholesale power cost on the market, but these costs are rising due to the factors above. Employees are also doing their part. Through our WorkSmart program, employees have initiated operating efficiencies worth $3 million per year in avoided costs for our members. I’m very proud of their efforts because none of the costs we control are causing the current rate increase. Rising wholesale power costs will affect our nation for the foreseeable future, but our commitment to you, our members, is that we will do everything possible to mitigate these costs while providing the best reliability and member service in the nation. Even in a rising costs environment, we’re committed to the cooperative principle of keeping your bill as low as possible.
Energy efficiency still matters You can save the average $2.70 rate adjustment or more by understanding how energy is used in your home. To help you identify potential low-cost or no-cost savings opportunities, we offer: •
•
•
Home energy, appliance and lighting cost calculators available at BlueRidge EMC.com. These tools show the projected dollar impact of changes you may consider. “Kill-a-watt” energy monitoring devices available for loan at your local Blue Ridge Electric district office or county libraries. This device identifies how much energy 120-volt appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, etc. are consuming. MyUsage.com, a FREE service that helps you monitor your energy usage on a daily basis. Have your meter, account number and email address handy and sign up at MyUsage.com. You can even set daily usage thresholds to automatically receive alerts when your usage exceeds a specified amount.
MEMBERSHIP matters
8/12/13 11:18 AM
N
Th cie refl ate Re fic RE
Th Ge uti mo res effi to erg by
Th low on tia 23
M
Energy efficiency helps: be aware of Âaround the clockÂappliances While appliances have become more energy efficient, few ever truly shut down anymore. As Americans add more and more electronic devices to their households — 25 on average, according to the Consumer Electronics Association — much more energy is consumed. For example, leaving a phone charger plugged in without a phone attached still uses 0.26 watts of electricity even when a phone isn’t connected, and 2.24 watts when the handset is charging.
ncy s
If most of your electronic devices are doing that, it can add up to as much as 10 percent of your bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
$2.70 by uns used ideno-cost ffer:
liance lculaRidge show mpact nsider.
monible for Ridge ce or device energy uch as , etc.
E seronitor a daily meter, email gn up u can hresheceive usage ount.
ers
Cable boxes are also a big culprit. Leaving your cable box plugged in for a year and never turning it off adds approximately $17 to your electric bill. Toss in a DVR and that total jumps to more than $43, the DOE reports.
NC REPS change The NC Renewables/Energy Efficiency line item charge on your bill reflects recovery of costs associated with meeting North Carolina’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (NC REPS). This law was passed by the 2007 NC General Assembly to encourage all utilities to generate and distribute more electricity from renewable resources and to encourage energy efficiency. It requires cooperatives to meet up to 10 percent of our energy sales through these measures by 2018. This year, members will see the following monthly changes starting on September bills: the residential fee will move from 30 cents to 23 cents; the commercial fee will MEMBERSHIP matters
BlueRidge-0913.indd 23
move from $3.75 to $2.97; and the industrial fee will move from: $24.95 to $19.74. The law includes spending caps to protect consumers from extreme cost spikes and to help achieve the NC REPS standards as cost effectively as possible. Expenses to comply with REPS will fluctuate annually according to renewable and energy efficiency projects by our wholesale power provider. Your cooperative is coordinating efforts with our wholesale power supplier, Duke Energy Carolinas. As we work to positively impact North Carolina’s environment and energy future, our goal is to implement effective ideas while providing members with the best value.
Electric bills don’t have to be held hostage by 24-hour-a-day energy use. To help reduce usage, use a power strip to turn several electronics on or off at once. For a bigger investment, look into “smart” power strips. They allow you to cut power to certain appliances — your TV, for example — while letting power flow to your cable box. If you’re in the market for a new appliance, look for an ENERGY STAR model. It generally consumes less power all around and uses less standby energy. Just remember that you have to use the energy-efficient settings on your appliances to see savings on your electric bill. For more information on energy-efficient living, visit BlueRidgeEMC.com or call your local Blue Ridge Electric office for an Energy Savers booklet of tips. Sources: U.S. Department of Energy, Consumer Electronics Association
Find unclaimed capital credits To help ensure all our members or former members receive refunds due to them through capital credits retirements, we’ve created a new page on our website that allows you to check our list of unclaimed capital credits recipients. These individuals are those whose capital credits checks were returned to us as “undeliverable” by the post office. This is an important reason to always contact us any time your address changes. Look for “Unclaimed Capital Credits” under the “Residential” tab at BlueRidgeEMC.com. If you or someone you know is on the list, please contact us during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. Proof of identity will be necessary to help ensure these refunds are delivered.
Page 23
8/12/13 11:18 AM
Take control and manage your account with new online options We’re pleased to announce the addition of two new online options: “Create Time Extensions” and “Draft Payment Options.” The first allows members to grant themselves a time extension if money is tight this month. The second allows members to forget the hassle of remembering to pay their electric bill by signing up for automatic bank or credit card draft. These new additions join existing online account options that include: • • • •
ÂMake doing business easy and convenient. Give me options. - Blue Ridge Electric Members
online payment account summaries billing, payment and usage histories create service requests and verify status.
Go to BlueRidgeEMC.com and click on the red “My Account” tab to see all the ways you can manage your Blue Ridge Electric account. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson
EDITOR Renée R. Whitener
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Susan Simmons
DISTRICT OFFICES Caldwell Watauga Ashe Alleghany Wilkes PowerLine®
(828) 754-9071 (828) 264-8894 (336) 846-7138 (336) 372-4646 (800) 451-5474 (800) 448-2383
Toll Free
(800) 451-5474
(PowerLine® is an automated account information and outage reporting system.)
(for members outside of the service area.)
To report an outage at any time, call one of the number listed above. OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday Night deposit available. Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEMC.com
Shop locally and support area businesses!
Local businesses join the Co-op Connections® Card program Blue Ridge Electric wants to welcome seven local businesses to the Co-op Connections® Card family. • • • • • • •
1861 Farmhouse Restaurant and Winery, LLC - Sugar Grove, NC Buffalo Tavern Bed and Breakfast - West Jefferson, NC Chix with Stix - Lenoir, NC Cottage 321 - A Unique Boutique - Hudson, NC Music Center - Lenoir, NC Una’s Naturals and Vintage - Sparta, NC Village Emporium - Sparta, NC
Co-op members served by Blue Ridge Electric are encouraged to shop locally and support these businesses along with all other businesses already participating in the program. For a complete list of participating businesses, go to the “Residential” tab at BlueRidgeEMC.com > Member Benefits > Co-op Connections Card. See how this card can save you money and support our local economy. *Misplaced your card? Contact your local Blue Ridge Electric office for a replacement.
Page 24
BlueRidge-0913.indd 24
MEMBERSHIP matters
8/12/13 11:18 AM