Last Updated on September 21, 2026 10:56 am
Lenoir, North Carolina (September 21, 2026) – Continued rising costs for wholesale power and electric system materials are driving the need for a rate adjustment that will impact the average member bill by five percent, or $7.25 for the typical member using 899 kWh monthly, effective in November.
Blue Ridge Energy's Board of Directors approved the adjustment after conducting a cost-of-service study reviewing the impact of the cost increases.
Explaining the need for the rate adjustment, Chief Executive Officer Katie Woodle said: “As a cooperative operating to provide at-cost electricity in the best interests of our members, it is never easy to pass along a rate adjustment even when it's necessary. However, we have experienced sustained significant increases in our largest expense: the cost of wholesale power that we purchase to reach homes and businesses,” she said.
Additionally, the equipment, materials, technology and other resources required to maintain our electric system to provide reliable electricity for our members has also experienced sustained rising costs,” she said.
Woodle said Blue Ridge Energy has worked extensively to control expenses. “We are very fortunate to have our Propane and Fuels and RidgeLink subsidiaries which play an important role by contributing earnings that are then used to help offset costs for our electric members,” she said. For example, in 2025 the subsidiaries generated $6.7 million in after-tax net benefit back to the parent cooperative which helped mitigate some of the cost challenges and help keep rates lower than would otherwise be needed.
“We also have recently renewed our employee-led WorkSmart program to identify additional savings opportunities throughout the organization in our day-to-day operations,” Woodle said. “Since the program began in 2009, over $56 million has been saved through targeted efforts by employees to identify processes and technology that allows us to work more efficiently and in a more cost-effective manner.”
Blue Ridge Energy offers a number of programs and services that can help members manage their bill and manage costs. Several examples include: Budget Billing allows members to pay the same amount for 11 months with a true-up in the 12th month. FlexPay is a “pay as you go” program that lets you pay for electricity in daily amounts, avoiding a larger monthly bill. The cooperative's team of energy specialists are experts in helping members identify possible inefficiencies around their home and Blue Ridge Energy's free Usage Tracker tool found on member portals and the mobile app helps as well. Find more resources at www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com/save.
Look for more details on the rate adjustment in the upcoming October member newsletter, Membership Matters, inside Carolina Country magazine sent to all members.
Blue Ridge Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative serving some 80,000 member-owners in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany counties as well as parts of Avery, Alexander and Wilkes counties.
