Local Cooperative Officials Travel to Raleigh to Meet with Legislators
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
Raleigh, North Carolina (April 9, 2003) — Officials from Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation recently traveled to Raleigh to meet with members of the state legislature as part of an effort known as “Rally in Raleigh”, an annual event organized by North Carolina electric cooperatives.
As one of the strongest advocate groups for the rural population in North Carolina, state electric cooperatives coordinate the annual Rally in Raleigh as part of the group’s associational government relations program. The Rally gives members of the legislature time to meet one-on-one with the state’s 27 electric cooperatives to discuss issues of importance to the cooperatives and the 2 million consumers they serve.
This year, Blue Ridge Electric and other cooperative officials asked our legislators to support House Bill 356 and Senate Bill 338 to remove the sunset provision in the Municipal Choice amendment allowing municipalities to choose electric utilities other than the utility holding a franchise in that municipality. In simpler terms, cooperatives asked the General Assembly to lift the expiration date and provide permanent protection for a municipality’s right to choose the best electric power provider for town residents.
The bill received strong support from both the House and Senate and passed unanimously in both chambers.
Attending this year from Blue Ridge Electric were: John Woodruff, president of the Board of Directors, Doug Johnson, chief executive officer, Beverly Finney, senior vice president of Public and Employee Relations, and Grey Scheer, director of community relations.
The Blue Ridge Electric delegation met with State Senator Virginia Foxx and Representatives Gene Wilson, Tracy Walker, Phillip Frye, Edgar Starnes, and Jim Harrell.
