Blue Ridge Electric and Blue Ridge Energies Combine Customer Service Offices, Open New Showroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Renee R. Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, Phone:  (828) 758-2383 
E-mail:  Renee Whitener

Lenoir, North Carolina (December 2, 1999) – Little more than a year after purchasing the former Beall Oil and Propane companies, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation is again making a move with its subsidiary company—now known as Blue Ridge Energies.

Beginning December 6, Blue Ridge Electric is teaming with Blue Ridge Energies to combine customer service offices and open a new and expanded joint showroom in the Customer Service Center of Blue Ridge Electric at 219 Nuway Circle NE. The center is located just behind the corporate headquarters of Blue Ridge Electric.

The combined customer service location for the two companies means that customers of both Blue Ridge Energies and Blue Ridge Electric can pay their energy bills, have a complete energy showroom, and receive customer assistance all in one location. New conveniences for Blue Ridge Energies customers will be the option of a drive-thru payment window and additional parking.

The showroom will include a variety of energy products including complete fireplaces with mantles, gas logs, free standing stoves, wall heaters, kerosene monitors, 
inserts, and grills. Commercial heaters and water heaters are also available. The latest in surge protection equipment for homes and businesses, as well as electric water heaters, are also included. 

“We’re making this move to offer more convenient service for our customers of both Blue Ridge Electric and Blue Ridge Energies,” said Doug Johnson, chief executive officer of Blue Ridge Electric and chairman of the cooperative’s subsidiary, Blue Ridge Energies. “In addition, combining our customer service functions offers operating efficiencies for both companies, which in turn benefits those we serve.”

“Our new customer service location just up the street provides added conveniences for our customers, and they’ll continue to receive the services they’ve told us they like about Blue Ridge Energies: automatic fill-up program to help avoid emergency refill situations, installation of gas appliances by qualified service technicians, and 24-hour service,” said Mark Sherman, chief operating officer of Blue Ridge Energies. “Customers also have the convenience of being able to call the same phone number they’ve always used to reach us at 758-4401.”

The current Blue Ridge Energies location, which was formerly the Beall Oil and Propane office, will now become the Operations Center for Blue Ridge Energies. Offices for the commercial gasoline employees, accounting, and other management staff will remain at the current site. While product and appliance assistance and sales will be handled from the new location at the Blue Ridge Electric customer service center, propane cylinders will still be filled at the current Blue Ridge Energies location. The bulk filling station will also remain at the Blue Ridge Energies Operations Center. 

Blue Ridge Energies was formed last year as a subsidiary of Blue Ridge Electric to offer benefits to members and the local area as profits from the subsidiary are to be returned to the cooperative to help manage electric costs. 

“In addition to high quality service and competitive pricing benefits for Blue Ridge Energies customers, the company also benefits members of Blue Ridge Electric and our region because all after-tax profits from the subsidiary are returned to the cooperative,” said Johnson. “These funds will be used by Blue Ridge Electric in managing electric costs as we continue the cooperative’s mission of providing affordable electricity to northwest North Carolina and work with local residents in developing and supporting the region we live and work in.”

Blue Ridge Energies serves a 13-county area from operations in Lenoir, Morganton, and Boone. The company provides propane gas, home heating oils, and commercial gasoline. 

Blue Ridge Electric is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperatives, serving some 60,000 customers. The company operates from corporate headquarters in Lenoir and Customer Service Centers in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany counties.

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