Update on Electric Deregulation and Bonds Issue Heard at
Blue Ridge Community Leaders Council Event
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 (October 20, 2000) - Members of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation’s Community Leaders Councils recently heard how consumers will likely fare from electric deregulation in North Carolina as well as how passage of the community college and university bonds on the November ballot will affect our state.
The presentations came during the annual fall meeting of the Community Leaders Councils, which were held at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center in Boone. With the purpose of strengthening northwest North Carolina as a whole, the Community Leaders Councils assist Blue Ridge Electric in strategic long-range planning for the communities served by the cooperative. The four councils—located in a Ashe, Allegany, Caldwell, and Watauga counties—are made up of city, county, government, and business representatives and other local leaders.
Charles W. “Chuck” Terrill, a member of the Study Commission of the Future of Electric Service in North Carolina as well as chief executive officer of North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation and its affiliated organizations, spoke on deregulation. As part of the Study Commission Terrill joins a league of appointees representing stakeholders brought together to advise the North Carolina General Assembly on enacting deregulation legislation in the state. Fellow members include electric utility leaders, government officials, representative from industrial, commercial and residential users, as well as an appointee from the environmental community.
Terrill explained that North Carolina is proceeding cautiously with deregulation and watching how other states are faring with recent deregulation plans. "North Carolina is already a low-cost state for electricity. We need to make sure we do not experience the problems associated with states like California and Pennsylvania including questionable marketing practices, supply problems and very confused customers, Terrill explained.
"There are many issues to consider when deregulating an industry,” he added, “and the electric utility industry is the last major industry group to consider deregulation. There’s good reason that this is one of the last industries to deregulate. It is complex task with stranded costs, municipal debt, reliability, safety, and environmental issues to seriously weigh and consider."
"Blue Ridge Electric and all North Carolina electric cooperatives are supporting deregulation if certain conditions are met: Number one: all consumers should see economic benefits. Number two: all consumers should continue to have access to affordable and reliable electric service. Number three: safety can’t be jeopardized. We also believe that exclusive service areas should be established or maintained for distribution and that stranded costs must be dealt with fairly and without negative economic impact."
Terrill concluded by urging the Community Leaders to remain focused on deregulation—which has been suggested to be in full effect by 2006 in this state—during the next few years as the Study Commission works out the complete plan for North Carolina.
Also presenting to the group was Appalachian State University Chancellor Dr. Francis T. Borkowski, who spoke in support of the community college and university bonds issue on the November ballot. Ryan Bolick, president of ASU’s Student Government Association, joined Chancellor Borkowski in requesting support of the bonds.
Borkowski said projections indicate that North Carolina universities must enroll 50,000 new students and communities colleges must enroll another 50,000 students in order to provide a well-educated, adequate workforce to meet the state’s needs in a rapidly changing, technology-based economy. Voter approval of the bonds is critical to the educational system, the workforce capabilities and the economy of our state, he said, adding that $3.1 billion is needed to upgrade educational facilities.
Doug Johnson, chief executive officer of Blue Ridge Electric, concluded the evening by thanking the Community Leaders Councils for serving on the councils and for joining Blue Ridge Electric to work for positive growth in our region.
Blue Ridge Electric is a not-for-profit electric cooperative serving over 60,000 members in northwest North Carolina. Its subsidiary, Blue Ridge Energies, is a propane, heating fuels, and commercial gasoline provider serving a growing territory from offices in Lenoir, Morganton, Boone and West Jefferson.
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