Balancing
Electricity Supply and Demand
Electricity is essential for nearly every aspect of daily life—so essential that we rarely think about how it’s produced and delivered to our homes. You might be surprised to learn that behind the scenes, a network of experts is working daily (and even by the minute) to anticipate how much electricity you need before you even use it.
We’re all connected to the electric grid, so ensuring the right amount of electricity for all involves a complex process of forecasting energy demand, planning for capacity, and securing enough supply to meet energy consumer’s needs.
Powerful sources
First, electricity must be generated at a power plant using either traditional sources such as coal, natural gas or nuclear energy; or from renewable sources such as solar, wind or hydropower.
At Blue Ridge Energy, we work closely with Duke Energy, our wholesale power supplier, to secure enough electricity for our communities, using a diverse mix of energy sources to generate the power we deliver to your home or business. By maintaining a diverse energy mix—nuclear, coal, natural gas, wind, solar and hydropower—Duke Energy has options for reliable power at a competitive cost.
Electricity supply changes throughout the day because demand fluctuates based on consumers’ needs. For example, we need to ensure more electricity availability in the
From Blue Ridge Energy CEO Doug Johnson
mornings when you’re starting your day and in the evenings when you’re cooking dinner, running appliances, and watching TV. Demand also increases when weather patterns change, such as extremely warm or cold temperatures.
Managing supply and demand across the grid
In North Carolina, we are served by a transmission grid called a Balancing Authority, which is owned and managed by Duke Energy. While we do not have a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) in North Carolina, Duke Energy is interconnected to several RTOs and Balancing Authorities such as PJM, TVA, Dominion (SC), Santee Cooper and Southern Company. All together, the eastern U.S. is interconnected to the Eastern Interconnection, made up of 36 Balancing Authorities. All of these organizations help ensure that we have adequate supply to meet demand.
Looking ahead
As the energy sector undergoes rapid change, it’s important for all consumers to understand the basics of electricity supply and demand.
Electricity use in the U.S. is expected to rise to record highs this year and next, with the demand for electricity expected to at least double by 2050. At the same time, energy policies are pushing the early retirement of always-available generation sources, which will undoubtedly compromise reliable electricity.
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Members wishing to be considered as a candidate for the Board of Directors have two application options: the nominating committee process or the nomination by petition process. Interested members must complete and submit a director application packet by contacting Julie O’Dell, Chief Administrative Officer, at jodell@blueridgeenergy.com or 1-800-451-5474, ext. 3202.
All application information is due by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 2025, when going through the Nominating Committee process, and by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, for those seeking nomination by petition.
Nominations by petition must include signatures of 20 or more members with a minimum of five from each of the four directorate districts with a requirement that each signature is the name that appears on the member’s electric service bill.
Directors are members of the cooperative and serve three-year terms, with three directors elected from each of the Cooperative’s four directorate (Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany) districts. Each director represents all members of the Cooperative. They attend Board meetings, Board committee meetings, and attend numerous training sessions throughout the year to be equipped and knowledgeable to serve in the best interests of the membership.
Qualifications to serve as a director of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation are listed below from Section 3.02 of the Cooperative’s Bylaws and can also be found online at BlueRidgeEnergy.com or at any local district office.
SECTION 3.02 Qualifications. To be eligible to become or remain a Director of the Cooperative, such person must meet the following qualifications:
(a) must be a natural person and a citizen of the United States,
(b) must be at least eighteen (18) years of age,
(c) must have been a member for a minimum of three (3) years, and such three (3) year period may include at the time of application by a director candidate, the membership duration of a spouse, as long as the director candidate applies for and becomes a joint member prior to being elected or appointed as a Director of the Cooperative,
(d) must have a high school diploma or GED,
(e) must be receiving electric service from the Cooperative at his primary residence which shall be for qualification purposes where a member is registered to vote and spends most of his time,
(f) must not have had a membership that has been in a state of suspension as defined in Section 1.10,
(g) must have and sustain the Cooperative’s most favorable credit rating as defined in the Service Rules and Regulations, as herein defined in Section 3.15,
(h) must not have been involved at any time in meter tampering reported to law enforcement,
(i) must be legally competent and available to attend regular Board meetings, committee meetings, training and other events. Directors who miss more than two consecutive regular Board meetings may be subject to removal action by the Board. It shall be the duty of the Board to develop additional policy guidelines on attendance requirements,
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At Blue Ridge Energy, we remain committed to providing affordable, reliable energy to the members we serve. That’s why we are preparing now f or increased demand and other challenges.
Managing the balancing act of electricity supply and demand is a complex job, which is why we have a network of utilities, power plant operators and energy traffic managers in place to direct the electricity we need and keep the electric grid balanced — all to best serve you, our member-owners!
(j) must not in any way be employed by, financially interested in, or serving as an officer, director, trustee or equivalent for a competing enterprise with the Cooperative or its subsidiaries, or a business that sells products, services or supplies to the Cooperative or its subsidiaries,
(k) must not have a close relative (as hereinafter defined in Section 3.14) who is in any way employed by, financially interested in, or serving as an officer, director, trustee, or equivalent for a competing enterprise with the Cooperative or its subsidiaries, or a business that sells products, services or supplies to the Cooperative or its subsidiaries,
(l) must not have been convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or a f elony pursuant to state or federal laws,
(m) must not have been a former regular full-time employee of the Cooperative or its subsidiaries,
(n) must not have a close relative who is an employee or incumbent director of the Cooperative as defined in Section 3.14 of these Bylaws,
(o) must comply with the requirements of the governing conflict of interest policies and guidelines as adopted by the Board, and the Cooperative’s non-discrimination policy, and
(p) Must complete a conflict-of-interest statement as part of the formal candidacy application process that includes disclosure of any nonmember campaign assistance.
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