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Yearend Review
Apr 1, 2008
By Joel S. Dalton
Chairman, Board of Directors
Each fall, the Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative board studies, discusses, and then puts its stamp of approval on a comprehensive Work Plan and Budget. This is the document that is designed to guide the co-op’s operation in the upcoming year. The WP&B inevitably includes an ambitious list of goals and objectives. These goals and objectives are addressed with one outcome in mind—that Blue Ridge will be a better organization on December 31 than it was when the process began 12 months earlier. A review of the co-op’s performance in 2007 would indicate that is exactly what came to pass. I am pleased to highlight that progress.
Safety and training – Strong emphasis on safety education, along with an extensive job training program, helped to produce a safe working environment for our employees. Starting in 2006 and going forward, our employee team worked for more than 400 consecutive days without a lost-time accident.
Financial goals – Adequate margins were earned for the year. This enabled Blue Ridge to meet or exceed a number of financial targets. Because of our financial success, we were able, once again, to return a portion of our margins to members through our capital-credit program.
Construction and maintenance – 22 major line-construction projects were completed across the Blue Ridge system last year. These included conversions of existing power lines to three phase, reconductoring and relocations of three-phase lines, underground cable extensions, and copper-wire change-outs. More-efficient use of trucks and manpower during outage situations led to reductions in overtime costs and other expenses. Lines of communications remained strong between Blue Ridge and other cooperatives to ensure a vigorous response in the event of severe storm emergencies.
Service reliability – New vegetation-management clearing standards were implemented, and all aspects of right-of-way maintenance were blended into prescribed planning districts. More steps were taken to educate and assist members, employees, and the public on vegetation-management programs and procedures. A high level of resources continued to be applied to keeping power lines free and clear of undergrowth.
Economic development – Support for expansions of existing industries and for area commerce parks helped to facilitate job creation in the Blue Ridge service territory. The spreading availability of adequate electric distribution facilities and other infrastructure is laying the foundation for significant future economic development.
Customer service – Thousands of additional remote-read meters were installed in 2007, elevating our meter saturation level to about 70 percent. A second meter-reading mobile collection unit was purchased, enabling the co-op to read meters with much more speed and accuracy. The end result of these investments is greater efficiency and lower expense.
Capital credits – $500,000 in capital credits was refunded to members in 2007, and another $600,000 is scheduled to be returned this month. Through the years, the co-op has refunded more than $17.1 million to its members. These current refunds are designated to members who received electric service from Blue Ridge during the years 1983 and `84.
Blue Ridge Fest – The 2007 charity fund-raiser produced a record $130,000 in net proceeds that was divided among 12 local human-assistance organizations. In its first 10 years of existence, the fest has given a total of $665,000 to help those in need.
My fellow directors and I take great pride in the strides the co-op organization continues to make. We remain focused on the fact that Blue Ridge is a member-owned utility. Our employees are dedicated to the mission of providing quality service at the lowest possible price. That commitment will not change in 2008 and in the years that follow.
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