matters MEMBERSHIP
April 2015
Why your bill may be higher and how we can help Even with three months of a temporary rate reduction for members on their January, February and March bills, this winter’s cold weather may still be causing your bill to be higher than normal. Why is this? And more importantly, what can you do?
Being inside more in winter also means using more electricity for lighting, appliances and other electronics — all of which increases usage and costs.
Significant changes in outside temperature can cause your heating system to work harder, run longer and use more electricity to keep your home heated. Setting your thermostat back a few degrees can help, but record cold weather like our area has experienced will still impact heating systems.
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If your bill is unexpectedly high, we offer several helpful options: If having a little more time to pay would help, you can automatically set up a 3-day time extension by calling 1-800-451-5474 and pressing “3.” Each extension is $10, but this is much less than late or reconnection fees. (continued on page 40)
Director election kit, Annual Meeting notice coming in May Members will receive their Annual Meeting notice and director election kit in the mail this May. For member convenience and to save on postage and other costs, members are strongly encouraged to visit the website listed in the kit to vote for directors over the Internet. Members also have the option to vote for directors on the mailed proxy form and return by mail if preferred. Lastly, members may vote during the Annual Meeting, which is a business meeting format to be held Thursday, June 11, at 4 p.m. at the corporate office in Lenoir.
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the
perspective From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson
Your most important cooperative benefit One of the most important benefits you have as a cooperative member is your right to elect other members to represent you on Blue Ridge Electric’s Board of Directors. As this year’s election approaches in May, we’re pleased to continue offering convenient ways for you to vote for your directors by Internet or mail. Voting by Internet helps the most in controlling costs but we strongly encourage members to vote using the convenient option they prefer! Each year, around 7,000 members vote for their directors using the Internet or mail. Previously, only members who could attend the Annual Meeting had the opportunity to vote — typically around 800 members — so we’re very pleased all members are now able to participate in director elections. While we’ve modernized our voting Page 38
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system and Annual Meeting in recent years, you can still attend and vote during the Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, at 4 p.m. at the corporate office. The Annual Meeting is now a business meeting where management and financial reports and announcement of director elections are provided. This information will also be available within our website, member newsletter, and annual report. We hope when you receive your director election kit in May that you’ll take a few minutes to vote for your directors by going to the website provided or by marking your selections on the enclosed form and returning it by mail.
Voting by Internet Saves More! When your director election kit arrives in May, a website will be listed where you can view director bios and quickly cast your vote. Please consider this convenient voting alternative to help reduce return postage costs to save money for your cooperative. After all, these savings benefit YOU — our members!
Voting for your directors is one of the most important — and now one of the easiest — ways to participate in your cooperative! MEMBERSHIP matters
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Home renovation safety The days are longer, the ground is thawing and lots of people are eager to take on yard and gardening projects that will give their home a fresh face for spring. Whether your plans include building a new deck or just planting shrubbery, follow a few safety tips to make sure your spring is a happy one. • Digging in the Ground: Utility lines often run underground across properties at varying depths. It’s important to get your utility lines marked before every digging job, even small projects like planting shrubs, because accidentally striking one of these lines could be deadly. Call 811 at least three business days before starting your project to have the utility lines marked for free. Don’t gamble with your safety. • Using Lawn & Garden Products: From lawnmowers to hedge trimmers to chainsaws and everything in between, there are lots of different types of yard tools. Because you may use some tools infrequently, it’s especially important to study each product’s manual for safe operation rules. Children should always be kept away from lawnmowers and other lawn equipment with sharp blades or fast moving parts. Additionally, safety guards should never be removed from such equipment and power cords should be kept out of the working path to eliminate the chance of cutting a cord and causing electrical shock.
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• Staying Clear of Power Lines: Whether you’re cleaning the gutters, trimming a tree, or doing some painting, always look for overhead wires. Be sure to maintain at least a 10-foot distance from any overhead power line and only use a fiberglass ladder, which is a safer alternative to wooden or metal ladders. If a ladder falls on a power line, do not try to move it. Call our offices for help.
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Go ahead. Take on your spring home improvement projects, but remember to put safety first.
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Service inspections To ensure you receive the most reliable electricity possible, we perform periodic service inspections that sometimes include the need to be on a member’s property. However, we do not require entry to your home. Our service technicians will have identification and vehicles that are clearly marked to include the Blue Ridge Electric name and logo. Our check includes inspecting the meter, service wiring, potential tree issues, and other things that could affect the quality of your electric service from the transformer to the meter. These inspections are in accordance with the reliability requirements of the National Electrical Safety Code to help ensure you receive reliable electricity. MEMBERSHIP matters
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Pick up a free “Energy Savers” booklet from any district office.
Why your bill may be higher and how we can help (continued from page 37) •
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If you’d like to discuss a customized payment arrangement plan, please call us at 1-800-451-5474 and remain on the line for a member services representative. Remember: acting before your bill is due can help you avoid late or disconnection fees! If you need more assistance, a local social services agency can determine if you qualify for crisis heating assistance from Operation Round Up® or state and federal funds.
What are easier ways to pay and manage my bill? Our FlexPay “pay-as-you-use” plan lets you pay in smaller amounts rather than one larger monthly bill. You can
pay in any amount, at any time of the day or night by phone, online or district kiosks. There’s also no deposit, late or reconnection fees. Budget Billing lets you equalize your payments with the same amount for 11 months and “even up” in the 12th month with a final payment (or credit if you’ve used less than budgeted). Combine this with bank draft for more convenience. How can I lower my usage and costs? Blue Ridge Electric also offers a free online or telephone energy audit customized to your home. Simply call us or go online to BlueRidgeEMC.com for the energy audit and more tips to lower your usage and bills with free efficiency tools and resources.
Monitor your usage and take control of your costs at MyUsage.com! 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
(PowerLine® is an automated account information and outage reporting system.)
Toll Free
(800) 451-5474
(for members outside of the service area.)
To report an outage at any time, call one of the numbers listed above. OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday Night deposit available. Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEMC.com +
Co-op Connections Card Program business spotlight Blue Ridge Electric wants to express its appreciation to the following businesses for their continued support of the Co-op Connections Card® Program. We encourage you to shop at these and other fine retailers across our service area. • •
Dogs by Debbie: FREE photo of newly-groomed pet and a surprise gift (Sparta, NC) Mount Jefferson Motors: $100 off any vehicle in stock (West Jefferson, NC)
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Cottage 321- A Unique Boutique: 10% off one regularly priced item per visit (Granite Falls, NC)
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Mountain Mystic Spray Tanning: Receive a FREE aroma when you purchase a spray tan (Boone, NC)
For a complete list of local and national businesses and the discounts they offer, go to BlueRidgeEMC.com/coop-connections-card. See how this little card can save you money while you support our local economy. *Misplaced your card? Contact your local Blue Ridge Electric office for a replacement. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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MEMBERSHIP matters
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