Blue Ridge Energies Signs Purchase Agreement with Carolina Energies, a Rutherford EMC Company   

For Immediate Release 

Contact: Renee R. Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, Phone: (828) 758-2383, Pager 800-471-1323, or E-mail:  Renee Whitener, Gary A. Whitener, President and CEO, Carolina Energies, (704) 482-9561 or 1-800-273-9561


Morganton, North Carolina (June 29, 2001) – Two local electric cooperatives and their wholly-owned, for-profit energy subsidiary companies have signed an agreement leading to the sale of the Blue Ridge Energies office and operations located at 1240-B Burkemont Ave. in Morganton, North Carolina. 

Blue Ridge Energies, which has additional offices it retains in Lenoir, Boone, West Jefferson and Sparta, is the subsidiary of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, a member-owned cooperative serving over 63,000 members in northwest North Carolina. 

Purchasing the Morganton location of Blue Ridge Energies is Carolina Energies, Inc., subsidiary company of Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation. Rutherford EMC is also a member-owned cooperative and serves over 59,000 members a 10-county area with offices in Morganton, Forest City, Marion, Crouse, Lincolnton, and Gastonia. 

The parent companies are two of the largest electric cooperatives in the state. Both subsidiary companies provide propane, kerosene, heating oil, and commercial gasoline products and services to growing markets. Finalization of the sale of the Morganton Blue Ridge Energies’ fuels business is scheduled for early July, while final acquisition of the commercial gasoline portion of the business is targeted for completion in early August. 

Gary Whitener, president and chief executive officer of Carolina Energies, said the purchase would enable Carolina Energies to expand its customer service in an area already served by its parent company, Rutherford EMC. Whitener also serves as executive vice president of Rutherford EMC.

“The acquisition will allow us to better provide a full range of energy services to our members and our other customers in a service territory we are familiar with,” said Whitener in reference to Burke and McDowell counties. “We are looking forward to continuing our involvement in these communities and carrying on a tradition of genuine customer care and commitment to our newest customers,” he added.

Doug Johnson, chairman and chief executive officer of Blue Ridge Energies and CEO of Blue Ridge Electric, said the sale is a “win-win opportunity for both companies.”

“While the Morganton office has been very successful and one of the fastest growing of our operations, we believe our focus needs to be in the area where our electric membership expects us to be providing service,” Johnson said.

“The sale will allow us to more fully concentrate on the potential growth in the Watauga County market, the growing Ashe County market, and in Alleghany County,” Johnson said. “We are also expanding our existing Catawba County operations, where we have a bulk fuels facility and have recently opened an operations and business development office to better serve our Hickory-area customers. Catawba County is a fast growing market that is a natural fit for our company and ties in with our electric service area in southern Caldwell County,” he continued.

For more information on Carolina Energies, visit www.REMC.com.  For more information about Blue Ridge Energies, visit www.BlueRidgeEneriges.com. 

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