matters MEMBERSHIP
SEPTEMBER 2014
A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM BLUE RIDGE ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
Did you know... in 1936, a loaf of bread cost 8 cents? The 2013 cost for that same loaf of white bread is $2.20, or 27.5 times more expensive.
Electricity remains a good value In today’s world, you won’t find many items that cost less than $5. You can purchase a gallon of milk, a gallon of gas or a Big Mac from McDonald’s. But did you know that an average day’s worth of electricity costs less than $5?
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Even in the current economy of rising prices, electricity remains a good value. In fact, electricity has the lowest cost per
treats we allow ourselves to purchase on a weekly basis (or maybe a daily basis for some items!). We don’t often question the cost of a fast-food meal – yet it can cost more to buy a convenience meal than it does to purchase an entire day’s worth of power.
We’ve all become increasingly reliant upon electricity. For most of us, electricity has gone from a luxury . . . an average day's worth of electricity commodity to a necessity and an expectation. We count on costs less than $5! the lights to work when we flip the switch, and we expect our powday of any of the items listed above. And er to stay on during the best and worst not all of those items are necessary for weather conditions. How else would we daily life! keep our food fresh, our homes cool in In thinking about your daily necessithe summer or warm in the winter? It is ties such as electricity, food and gasoeasy to cut a fast-food meal out of your line, think about the cost of the special spending routine here and there to save
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a few dollars. But, we cannot as simply cut electricity out of our budgets if times get tough or we decide that we want to scale back our spending in order to save. That’s one reason Blue Ridge Electric works so diligently to control costs and meet our goal of keeping members’ bills as low as possible. It’s why we’re especially pleased no rate increase is necessary for 2014. If at times it doesn’t seem that electricity is affordable, remember – even as the demand for electricity grows – electricity still remains a good value, especially when compared to other consumer goods such as medical care, education, gasoline and, yes, even a Big Mac !
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the
perspective From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson
Balancing affordable electricity with environmental goals Due to the effect it could have on members’ electric bills, Blue Ridge Electric is monitoring new rules coming out of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We believe that balancing cost with environmental goals is achievable. However, the EPA’s proposed regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2030 is too aggressive to maintain affordable electricity. Furthermore, the EPA has assigned individual carbon reduction goals to each state and charged each with developing their own plans for meeting the goal. North Carolina’s reduction goal is 39 percent by 2030. Needless to say, we’re very concerned about the impacts from our more aggressive goal. In fact, the goals are not very practical. While our industry is developing and testing technology that can burn coal more cleanly, the technology isn’t yet commercially available to accommodate the goals being set. Furthermore, North Carolina would likely have to close several coal-generating plants and replace them with new, more expensive plants in order to com-
Please act now! Help ensure affordable electricity Page 22
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ply with the regulations. New emissions regulations also mean a lengthy permitting and construction process, which could delay construction and add costs. The good news is that carbon emissions are already on the decline in the United States, due in part to increased use of natural gas to fuel power plants. Energy efficiency efforts have helped too. It’s also good to know that your cooperative has a diversified power supply portfolio through our power supplier, Duke Energy Carolinas. This mix includes emission-free nuclear, renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydro and natural gas. It also includes coal, which for decades has helped North Carolina enjoy some of the lowest prices for electricity in the nation.
mission facilities, improving technology, addressing cyber security and improving distribution capacity — which are necessary steps to continue providing affordable, reliable electricity now and for future generations. The cost impacts of these regulations will affect us individually and could hurt efforts to attract new jobs in the future — and to keep existing jobs in our communities. It will also place a financial burden on many of our members, especially lower income and senior citizens on fixed incomes.
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However, the cost impact from the EPA’s proposed regulations could be significant. The cost issue is important because these are not the only rising costs affecting our industry and consumers as a whole. Our nation is modernizing the power grid and trans-
We’re involved in the comment process for these new EPA regulations and we’re encouraging you to join us. It will take months to thoroughly review the regulations and assess the economic impact on our members so we’ll be keeping you informed of our findings and efforts. Our goal is the same goal as it always is: to ensure reliable, affordable electricity for our members.
Recently proposed EPA regulations targeting existing power plants will increase the cost of electricity, and have serious consequences for our communities. Join us as we ask the EPA to do a more thorough cost impact analysis before implementing costly carbon regulations. It’s fast and easy! Simply visit tellEPAnc.com today.
MEMBERSHIP matters
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Help us help you . . . Any time your telephone numbers, e-mail or mailing address change, please call your local Blue Ridge Electric office to update your account information. This helps us provide you with the best member service, especially during outages or when you contact us. It also ensures timely delivery of important items such as capital credits refunds!
NC REPS change The NC Renewables/Energy Efficiency charge on your bill reflects recovery of costs for 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 23 cents to 35 cents; the commercial MEMBERSHIP matters
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fee will move from $2.97 to $1.57; and the industrial fee will move from: $19.74 to $10.17. The law includes spending caps to protect consumers from extreme cost spikes and to achieve the NC REPS standards as 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 power supplier, Duke Energy Carolinas. As we work to positively impact North Carolina’s environment, our goal is to also provide members with good value.
Find unclaimed capital credits To help our members or former members receive refunds due to them through the cooperative’s capital credits retirements, all unclaimed capital credits are listed on our website. To check the list, visit BlueRidge EMC.com and click the “Residential” tab. Look for the “Member Benefits” heading to find the link to Unclaimed Capital Credits. Unclaimed capital credits are for 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. If you are on the list, please contact us, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Proof of identity will be necessary to ensure these refunds are delivered. Page 23
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For faster service . . .
Self help service options Thousands of members are using our self help service options to make payments, check account information and more! No more waiting in line or on hold! Consider these friendly, fast and easy-to-use options: •
Call us to select our automated telephone options to make a payment, extend a payment due date, or check account balance. You can always reach a Blue Ridge Electric representative if needed!
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Payment center kiosks at each district office accept payments by cash, credit or debit card at any time of the day or night.
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Online account information and payments at BlueRidgeEMC.com > My Account
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Pay in any amount, at any time when you sign up for our FlexPay program.
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Bank Draft and Budget Billing options are as easy as it gets! *Right now, we’re running a special promotion: members who sign up for Bank Draft will be entered to win a FREE iPad mini at the end of this year!
ÂMake doing business easy and convenient. Give me options. - Blue Ridge Electric Members
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson
Shop locally and save more!
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
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Businesses join the Co-op Connections® Card program Blue Ridge Electric welcomes six Watauga County businesses to the Co-op Connections® Card family: • • • • • •
Darci & Co. Boutique Los Arcoiris Mexican Restaurant Mint: Cuisine of India Mountain Mystic Spray Tanning Red Onion Rivers Street Deli
Blue Ridge Electric members are encouraged to shop locally and receive discounts from these and other participating businesses. For a complete list of participating businesses and the discounts they offer, 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.
MEMBERSHIP matters
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