Bruce Drum Named Director of Plant Development for 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
Lenoir, North Carolina (January 17, 2003) – Bruce Drum has been named director of plant development for Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, a not-for-profit member-owned electric utility serving over 64,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes and Alexander counties.
Drum joined Blue Ridge Electric in 1963 as a staking engineer and has progressed through the company since that time. Most recently, he served for the past four years as director of operations. He has also served in the capacities of Caldwell line technician/crew leader, construction manager, and operations supervisor. He has completed numerous technical and supervisory training programs.
In his new position, Drum will oversee planning and supervision of plant development activities for the cooperative’s design and construction of transmission and distribution facilities. To meet its member’s power needs, Blue Ridge Electric has constructed and maintains 6,700 miles of overhead and underground distribution line, as well as 245 miles of transmission line.
Drum is currently overseeing the cooperative’s largest upgrade project since it was formed in 1936. “Much of our system was built in the early 1950s when we providing power to only about 12,000 members,” said Drum. “Today, our cooperative delivers power to some 64,000 members, and that number grows about three percent each year. We also have more industry and business members who require consistent, quality power. And, the homeowners we serve have many more types of appliances, computers, and other electrical-powered equipment in their homes. All these factors contribute to the need we have today to upgrade our system. The work we’re doing now will help Blue Ridge Electric continue delivering highly reliable, quality power to those we serve for many years to come,” Drum explained.
As a distribution utility, Blue Ridge Electric doesn’t generate its own electricity but must tap into transmission lines of utilities that generate electricity. To better achieve this requirement, the cooperative will be conducting major transmission work in 2003, including constructing a transmission line from to the Grace Chapel substation from its Sawmills tap. Blue Ridge Electric will also complete its current Horse Gap-to-Beaver Creek transmission upgrade that will benefit all members in each service area of the cooperative. The cooperative will also begin work on a Glendale Springs-to-Sparta transmission line. Work on the Beaver Creek-to-Todd transmission line will be completed this year.
Improvements to over 34 miles of distribution line across the cooperative’s service territory will also take place this year.
Drum lives in Lenoir with his wife, Barbara. They have two adult children, David Drum and Elizabeth Chester, and three grandchildren.
