The Enlightener

October 2006

Members Help Support Renewable Energy

Blue Ridge Electric began partnering with NC GreenPower in October 2003 to give members an easy, affordable way to support renewable energy initiatives. Since then, 275 members have signed up. As of August 2006, $29,812 in contributions has been sent to NC GreenPower to help support the development of renewable energy sources for our state’s power supply.
NC GreenPower is the first statewide program that encourages development of technology to transform renewable energy such as wind, solar, and methane sources into cleaner and environmentally sustainable power.

NC GreenPower operates by using voluntary contributions from residential and business consumers. Residential consumers can contribute as little as $4 per month, which is added onto their monthly power bill. All contributions, which are tax deductible, are forwarded by Blue Ridge Electric and other participating utilities directly to NC GreenPower.
All energy generated for the NC GreenPower program will be produced in North Carolina for the state’s power supply. Producers are selected from responses to requests for proposals (RFPs) from NC GreenPower and through their qualifications process. As signups for NC GreenPower create more demand for renewable energy, additional RFPs will be issued.

Statewide results as of April show NC GreenPower had signed up 7,833 supporters statewide with monthly contributions averaging 14,277 blocks of energy (one block of energy is equal to 100 kilowatt (kwh) hours. For comparison, the average home uses 1,000 kwh per month). The environmental equivalent is 2,742,548 trees planted or 1,056,124 days of not driving your car.

To sign up for NC GreenPower, call your local Blue Ridge Electric office or visit www.BlueRidgeEMC.com. Producers interested in submitting proposals should visit www.ncgreenpower.org for more information.

Members Only News
- For Members of Blue Ridge Electric

Coming Soon!

In order to serve you better, we’re conducting a system software conversion in November and along with that will be a new design or “look” for your bill from Blue Ridge Electric.

We value your input and have incorporated it into the design of our new bill. It’s now easier to read in a clean, clear and concise format. Included with your new bill will be a helpful tips guide on how to read your new bill. As always we’re here to answer any questions you may have.

For faster service, please remember to always bring your bill with you when visiting or calling our offices.

Your new bill design is just one way we’re working to serve you better through the system software conversion. We appreciate your patience as we begin using the new technology in November. We’re excited about the system because it will enable us to serve you better!

PURPA Comments and Meeting Notice

Blue Ridge Electric will receive comments and hold a public hearing as part of its consideration and determination process for the five standards set forth in the national Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), which amended the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA).

Comments will be received starting December 1, 2006, through February 28, 2007.

The public hearing will be held at the cooperative’s corporate office at 1216 Blowing Rock Blvd., Lenoir, on January 30, 2007.

The five standards address: net metering, time-based metering, interconnection with member generation, fuel source diversification, fossil fuel generation efficiency.
A decision on the appropriateness to implement each individual standard will be made on or before July 31, 2007, and will be based on the cooperative’s studies and the input received from members. The decisions will be communicated in writing through official notice.

For more information on public input, visit our web site at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com or contact Brian Crutchfield at
1-800-451-5474 or by e-mail at bcrutchfield@blueridgeemc.com.

The Perspective

An Editorial by Chief Executive Officer Doug Johnson

Your Subsidiary Update

As a member-owner of Blue Ridge Electric, you are also an owner of the cooperative’s propane and heating fuels subsidiary, Blue Ridge Energies, LLC. Through this column, I periodically share updates about your subsidiary.

As you may know, Blue Ridge Energies propane, heating fuels, and hearth products are available in showrooms located in each of our district offices. We also provide propane to Catawba County, where we have had a bulk plant and operations office for several years. This year, we are expanding our operations in Catawba County to include a hearth showroom located in Conover later this fall.

Our expansion in Catawba County represents a significant growth opportunity that will be beneficial for your for-profit subsidiary. Most importantly, it will ultimately benefit the members of Blue Ridge Electric as a portion of the profits from the subsidiary will be used to fund the Blue Ridge Electric Members Foundation.

This new foundation is being formed this year for the purpose of providing significant support for quality of life projects and programs in our local communities served by Blue Ridge Electric. Funding will come from the profits of Blue Ridge Energies as well as from cooperative member donations made through Operation Round Up, a new program that replaces and expands the existing BREMCare program. Members can voluntarily participate in Operation Round Up by asking us to round up your electric bill to the next dollar amount and contributing the few extra cents to the program.

Blue Ridge Energies is working to ensure your subsidiary helps meet the heating fuels and hearth needs of northwest North Carolina with a strong focus on customer care. We’re also ensuring your subsidiary directly benefits the members of Blue Ridge Electric through the efforts of the new Blue Ridge Electric Members Foundation which is designed to improve the quality of life in our local communities.

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Energy Efficiency Tips

If you use electricity to heat your home, consider installing an energy efficient heat pump system. Heat pumps are the most efficient form of electric heating in moderate climates, providing up to three times more heat than the equivalent amount of energy they consume in electricity.

There are three types of heat pumps: air-to-air, water source, and ground source. Each type collects heat from the air, water, or ground outside your home.

Heat pumps do double duty as a central air conditioner. They can also cool your home by transferring the heat inside your house and effectively pumping it outside. Because of the efficiency of this heat transfer, a heat pump can significantly reduce the amount of your energy consumption.

With information from the US Dept. of Energy at www.energy.gov.

Attention BREMCare Participants!

Beginning soon, the donation you make to BREMCare will appear on your bill as “Operation Round Up.” The mission and purpose of BREMCare has been expanded and the program is now called Operation Round Up. We appreciate your continued support of this helpful member program!

Published monthly by Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation for its 52,673 members