New River Light and Power Signs New Electric Service Agreement with Blue Ridge Electric
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383 ext. 3213; Pager:1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
Boone, North Carolina (January 17, 2000) –New River Light and Power has signed a new electric service agreement with Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation.
The new agreement is for full power requirements, and is effective beginning January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2005.
“I am extremely pleased that New River Light and Power has entrusted Blue Ridge Electric to continue as their power supplier,” said Doug Johnson, chief executive officer of Blue Ridge Electric. “As neighboring utilities serving customers in northwest North Carolina, I believe the arrangement between New River and Blue Ridge Electric is especially beneficial for our area.
Don Austin, general manager of New River Light and Power Company, stated that, “Wholesale power deregulation and resolution of stranded costs issues have allowed New River to shop for wholesale power. I am pleased that Blue Ridge Electric and the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation had an interest in joining together to provide New River a full service contract. I believe the contract is fair and equitable to customers of both utilities and we look forward to this continuing relationship,” Austin said.
New River Light and Power first began purchasing power from Blue Ridge Electric when the 1940 flood in Watauga County washed out New River’s power production facilities. New River Light and Power continued purchasing supplemental power from Blue Ridge Electric until New River stopped generating power at the Tate Dam in 1968. From that time, New River has purchased its full power requirements from Blue Ridge Electric.
New River Light and Power serves the town of Boone. Blue Ridge Electric is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative serving customers in Watauga, Caldwell, Ashe, Alleghany, Alexander, and Wilkes counties.
