As of May 2020, Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Cooperative will cease to be in the television business. About 1,070 people will be impacted, according to Daniel Frizzell, BRMEMC Director of Engineering. “As an alternative, we are promoting over the top streaming services using broadband,” he said. “It requires a Smart TV, a device like a Firestick, Roku or other similar devices.”
The board discussed whether to offer current TV service customers a free Roku, hoping they will continue the BRMEMC internet services they currently have. Board members Gene Henson and Danny Henson felt offering something free to some customers may not be the fairest way to accommodate the change. Henson said the TV customers he had spoken to do not seem to mind the television service is ending. The board tabled the discussion about whether to offer something, but notification letters about the TV service ending will go out in a few weeks.
In addition, during public comment of the monthly meeting held Monday, Nov. 18, member Lucille Heil explained how some BRMEMC members were not pleased when the company decided to hold its annual meeting on a weekday. She began her comments by saying, “You’re doing a great job.” Then she told board members it was reported the annual meeting was $23,000 under budget. “You could have held the meeting on the second Saturday in September as bylaws state,” she said. “Even paying overtime, you would still have saved $10,000.”
The BRMEMC Board of Directors voted earlier this year to change the 2019 annual meeting to a weekday to save the company from paying overtime to employees. Annual meetings were traditionally held on a Saturday, but this year’s meeting was held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26. It was also relocated to the company’s headquarters in Young Harris, after being held at Union County Schools Fine Arts Center for a few years and at Georgia Mountain Fair’s Anderson Music Hall for many years prior.
Heil added her concerns about the rate increase. “The higher demand usage customers should be subject to the same increases,” she said. “Does General Manager Nelms receive performance bonuses each year? Does the savings benefit the members or him? I don’t understand why no one else has a problem with this. The board of directors are members, too.”
Member Rosemary Walker asked the board to consider a comfortable place with seating for members to wait for board meetings to start. Doors open just before 6 p.m. for members attending monthly board meetings; however, members must wait outside until doors are opened. Some wait in their cars near the entry, while others stand near the door.
During his reports, Nelms explained company sales. Previous year-to-date operating revenue was $23,361,255 with cost of service at $22,188,240, while the current year is at $24,133,699 operating revenue and $22,575,058 cost of service. “Our net income is healthy, but the nature of the business is the roller coaster is about to start.” He said another major winter storm can impact the company a lot. Operating a utility company is expensive. Nelms said four new transformers are needed as critical installations and asked Frizzell what they will costs. “Between $300,000 to $500,000,” Frizzell replied.
Nelms also said a WNC Region A broadband meeting was held Friday, Oct. 25 to try to find providers to fill broadband gaps in the western North Carolina region.
Cookies with Santa will be from 2-4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5, at the company’s headquarters. The event and photos with Santa will be free for members. Employees’ families will get to attend from 4-7 p.m.
Other items on the agenda included:
• Approval of an employee dental insurance plan.
• Staff meetings are being held for strategic planning.
• Safety accreditation is being updated.
• Annual pole top and treetop safety training is being done.
• A Monday, Dec. 2 annual emergency response plan tabletop exercise will be done.
• Union County schools and EMC staff are looking at adding a training program for linemen.
• The monthly meetings may return to the second Tuesdays for 2020.
BRMEMC’s next monthly meeting will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9 at Blue Ridge Mountain EMC Headquarters 875 Main St. East in Young Harris. Members must complete a request to attend at least five business days prior to the meeting. These are available at the headquarters or online at: BRMEMC.com.