Membership Matters

March 2003

Record Cold Winter Leads to Higher Energy Bills

Citing the start of this winter season as the 10th coldest in the past 55 years, Dr. Ray Russell says it’s also been “The Winter of Wind.”

According to Russell, an associate professor at Appalachian State University and host of Ray’s Weather Center at www.raysweather.com, most of January – 26 days – and 19 in December – were very cold with daily low temperatures below 30 degrees recorded in Boone. For six of those days in January the low was less than 10 degrees. Furthermore, there were 34 days during those two months when the daily high temperatures were less than 40 degrees!

While the statistics are fascinating, they’ve also translated into more energy usage and higher power bills for members. Similar weather patterns led to higher energy bills for most consumers in the nation.

Locally, colder weather led Blue Ridge members to consume 31 percent more electricity in December 2002 as compared to just a year earlier in December 2001.

“As a result, many homeowners have been faced with higher heating bills during the winter of 2002-2003 as compared to the winter of 2001-2002,” said Rand Smith, electric services manager for Blue Ridge Electric. “And this winter’s unusually windy conditions have accelerated heat loss in homes, resulting in even higher energy usage,” he explained.

What can you do to manage rising energy costs? Blue Ridge Electric offers the following tips:

Heating systems typically use the most energy in a household. An energy-efficient model saves on energy costs. Proper installation and service by certified technicians in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications is critical to ensure the system performs at its rated efficiency.
Weatherize your home. Simple steps include caulking leaks around windows and doors and installing weather stripping. Adequate insulation is a must. Insulation values of R-30 to R-38 are recommended in our area for attics and R-19 for floors.
Dirty air filters reduce air flow and dirty coils reduce efficiency, causing fan-forced heating systems to run longer. Regularly inspect filters on forced air systems and clean or replace them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
If you have a fireplace, close the damper when not in use.

Other steps to take:

To even out your energy bills and make budgeting for utility costs easier, sign up for Budget Billing. This allows you to make the same payment for 11 months and “even up” in the 12th month. Monthly payments are based on individual usage history and can even be drafted from your bank account.
A free on-line energy audit is available at www.BlueRidge-EMC.com. Be sure to enter specific, accurate information for your home in order to get useful feedback.
Good energy information on appliances and equipment is available at www.dulley.com, hosted by James Dulley, a nationally syndicated engineer and energy expert.

Members Only News
-For Members of Blue Ridge Electric

Blue Ridge Energies Update

On January 2, Blue Ridge Energies acquired the propane business of Accugas, Inc. of Lenoir.

John Hall, former owner of Accugas, is working with Blue Ridge Energies to serve the customers.

“Through our team’s hard work, we’ve made tremendous strides for Blue Ridge Energies and this acquisition efficiently grows our business in an area we are already serving,” said Lee Chase, vice chairman of the subsidiary.

Blue Ridge Energies is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Blue Ridge Electric operating from the cooperative’s district offices in Lenoir, Boone, West Jefferson, and Sparta, as well as from an operations office in Hickory. The subsidiary provides propane, heating fuels and commercial gasoline as well as hearth products and appliances.

Photo_CEO Johnson The Perspective

An Editorial by Chief Executive Officer Doug Johnson
War's Effect on Fuel Prices

At the time this Perspective column is being written, war with Iraq appears to be inevitable for our nation and repercussions are already occurring in the global fuels market. This affects all fuels users. It also affects distributors like our cooperative’s fuels subsidiary, Blue Ridge Energies, and because of this I want to discuss a few of the impacts.

The fuels market is experiencing daily, if not hourly, price fluctuations in gasoline, propane, and all other heating fuels. Rising prices are due in part to an economy’s natural reaction to conserve what may become limited resources.

An even greater threat to the price of energy is the potential supply disruption caused by the Iraqi conflict. For example, Baghdad has threatened to attack Kuwait, another oil producing nation, if Americans set up base in that country. And while overshadowed by the pending war, political unrest and labor strikes in the world’s fifth largest oil-producing nation – Venezuela – is also adversely impacting the price of fuels.

These situations can lead to production and delivery disruptions. When coupled with increased fuel usage during one of the coldest winters in years, it becomes easy to understand why price increases are heavily impacting our nation’s consumers. Most of us understand the cost drivers but dealing with the impact on the family budget has put a strain on many households.

Blue Ridge Energies diligently monitors fuel costs and supplies. We work hard to offer the most competitive prices possible. Closest to our hearts is that in every way, small and large, we go the “extra mile” to give our customers unparalleled service and care.

This season, we also created money-saving programs that can be used individually or all together for maximum savings: special senior citizens pricing, Budget Billing to reward customers who spread out their fuel bills over the year, an Exceptional Home program benefiting customers with all-gas homes, and a “Keep Full” program with special pricing for those who allow us to fill their tanks automatically based on their usage history. The great thing about these programs is that all of our customers can take advantage of at least one or two.

We will continue to keep in touch with our members and customers about local effects from the global energy market. In the meantime, please know that we are striving to combat many of the adverse affects and we will be working with the best interests of you, our consumers, in mind.

Safe Flights

The windy month of March is perfect for flying kites. Because kites or balloons that come into contact with power lines can cause shock, injury, or even fire, please keep in mind the following safety precautions:

Stay clear of electric power lines, electric signs, and TV and radio antennas.
Metal is conductive of electricity so don’t use metal line or metallic balloons outdoors.
Water conducts electricity so keep your hands, kite, and string as dry as possible.
Abandon a kite before risking your life or health to rescue it from a utility pole or location near power lines. Contact the cooperative if you see a kite caught in or around power lines to help avoid power disruption and prevent a safety hazard.
Go indoors if thunder or lightning begins while you’re outdoors.

How to Report An Outage

Call 1-800-448-2383 to use PowerLine any time, day or night, for the quickest way to report an outage or get account information.

Or you can call your local Blue Ridge Electric district office

Published monthly by Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation for its 52,006 members.