Our recent Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative Annual Meeting of Members was a record-setter.  A total of 8,228 members registered for the event, easily the largest attendance we’ve seen to date.  Folks from across the co-op’s 1,800-square-mile service area participated in the two days of drive-thru registration at both our Oconee and Pickens offices.

Even with those big crowds, the process went quite smoothly.  Employees and members alike appeared to shake off the chilly temperatures, as well as the unending downpour of rain that fell over the area both days.  Our employees always enjoy having this opportunity to interact with so many folks face to face.  It was a big plus for members that no one had to exit his or her automobile to complete the registration process.

My main contribution to the meeting’s activities was the management report that I delivered online immediately after registration closed on that Thursday.  I used my time to spotlight the healthy growth on the Blue Ridge system in 2022.  During that 12-month period, the cooperative added more than 1,200 net new member accounts. 

I was also pleased to share that we had stepped up the cooperative’s vegetation-management program.  Our hardworking crews cleared about 2,000 miles of rights of way in 2022.  It was a determined commitment that produced the desired result—the number of power outages for the year trended noticeably downward.

A portion of my remarks called attention to the fact that the retail electric rates Blue Ridge charges had remained stable for another year.  I had to temper my enthusiasm somewhat because both national and international factors are conspiring to put upward pressure on the prices we pay for our wholesale electricity.  Some future changes in our retail rates look to be inevitable.   However, the cooperative is working diligently to secure adequate supplies of wholesale power at the lowest possible prices. 

I ended my annual meeting comments with an update regarding the ongoing progress our Upcountry Fiber operation is making in bringing high-speed internet service to the Blue Ridge service territory.  In the 27 months since the first customer received broadband service, more than 10,000 accounts had been connected to the fiber-optic cable that’s being installed all across the countryside. 

Finally, I should certainly note that Blue Ridge members attending the annual meeting participated in an election to fill the Anderson County seat on the co-op’s board of directors.  Will Anderson was elected to this position made vacant by the death of long-time director Ben Bolt.  My congratulations go out to Mr. Anderson and to Paul Brown for the quality campaigns that both conducted. 

Jim Lovinggood

President CEO