Blue Ridge Energies Purchases Burns Oil, Inc. of Lenoir

For Immediate Release 

Contact: Renee R. Whitener, Director of Public Relations, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, Phone: (828) 758-2383, Pager 800-471-1323, or E-mail:  Renee Whitener

Lenoir, North Carolina (August 8, 2005) – Blue Ridge Energies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, has purchased the heating fuel business of Burns Oil Company, Inc., of Lenoir, effective August 3.

Blue Ridge Energies is a provider of residential and commercial propane, home heating fuel, diesel and kerosene products. Located in the district offices of Blue Ridge Electric in Lenoir, Boone, West and Jefferson, its showrooms offer gas logs, fireplaces, heaters, stoves and more.

Dawn Burns Owens, daughter of former Burns Oil owner Mike Burns, will join Blue Ride Energies’ operations office beginning September 19.

Letters to customers of the former Burns Oil have been mailed to inform them of the changes, to give information on services available from their new heating fuel provider, and to welcome them as new customers of Blue Ridge Energies.

Burns Oil was formed by Mike Burns of Lenoir to serve Caldwell County customers 12 years ago.

“Burns Oil has been highly respected in our community for years and we are delighted to now serve their customers and continue the excellent service reputation that both our companies are built upon,” said Glenda Christian, chief operating officer of Blue Ridge Energies. “We are also pleased that Dawn Burns Owens will be joining us,” Christian added. “She will be a valuable addition to our team and for all of our customers.”

Former Burns Oil customers will now be served from Blue Ridge Energies’ Lenoir customer service office and hearth products showroom located within Blue Ridge Electric’s district office at 219 Nuway Circle, NE. A propane filling station is available at the company’s operations office at 110 Nuway Circle, NE, just across from the corporate office of Blue Ridge Electric. Customers may contact the company at 758-4401 or on the Internet at www.BlueRidgeEnergies.com.

Formed in 1998, Blue Ridge Energies provides propane, heating fuel, diesel and kerosene services in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Catawba and Avery counties.

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