Have you seen the new Energy Savings Guide?

FEBRUARY 2016
Have you seen the new Energy Savings Guide?
Enclosed with this month’s issue of Carolina Country
magazine is a special publication customized for you.
Save this energy efficiency guide and refer to the tips
and information to save energy and potentially lower your
monthly energy bill.
To make it easy, we’ve divided the guide into three sections:
Everyday things you can do to make a difference in your
energy use
Projects that will take your savings to the next level
Information on BEMC’s Weatherization Loan Program that
can help you spread out the cost of projects over time
We hope you’ll use the ideas that work for you, and we’re
always here to answer questions. Don’t wait to get started!
Call the office or visit bemc.org for more information.
BEMC achieves superior reliability through excellence
in Right of Way maintenance
A right of way (ROW) refers to a strip of land underneath
or around power lines that your electric cooperative has
the right and responsibility to maintain and clear. Clearing
the ROW is critical to keeping our members’ lights on. Your
electric cooperative maintains a reliability rating of 99.992%
due in part to a consistently effective right of way program
in BEMC’s service area. An average of 15 percent of power
interruptions occur when trees, shrubs or bushes grow too
close to and interfere with power lines. If a tree encroaches
on this safe distance, our vegetation management team
will trim back branches and brush using chainsaws, bucket
trucks, tree climbers, brush chippers and mowers.
ROW clearing also keeps your family safe by ensuring
that tree branches do not become energized due to close
contact with a downed power line. Power lines can carry up
to 34,500 volts, and an energized tree branch is incredibly
dangerous – even deadly. Be mindful when around trees
close to power lines, and make sure your children know that
climbing trees near power lines is extremely dangerous.
ROW clearing is also critical to ensuring that we provide
members with affordable electricity. Staying ahead of the
game means fewer field visits to repair fewer downed lines
to restore power after a big storm.
A Skytrim is used to help cut 250 to 300 miles of ROW per year. We also mow around 1000 miles of distribution and transmission line per year.
February 2016 | Page 21
MANAGER’S
MESSAGE
Don Hughes
CEO/General Manager
Most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about how
they get their electricity, but if you do, it is likely to be when
it’s either really cold or really hot outside. So, as we wait for
warmer weather to arrive, this may be a good time to explain
what it means to be a member of an electric cooperative.
Once you move into an electric cooperative’s service
area, and get your electricity from a co-op, you become a
member-owner of the co-op. Electric co-ops operate on a
not-for-profit basis, and their sole purpose is to serve their
membership. Any revenues above operating costs, called
‘margins’, are over time returned to members in the form
of capital credits. The Board of Directors, elected by the
membership at annual meetings, determines when to return
the margins after planning for future infrastructure and other
growth. Cooperatives also have a long history of service to
their communities. In rural America, this began during the
late 1930s as co-ops provided power to homes and farms. In
addition to this basic service, it naturally evolved to include
widespread community programs ranging from grants and
scholarships to monthly energy management education and
new energy opportunities for its members.
We hope that the “cooperative difference” makes you proud
to be a member of BEMC. You can see why we are so focused
on providing safe, reliable power at the lowest possible cost,
because everything we do at the co-op is with you in mind.
This leads me to introduce the newest initiative we’re doing
on your behalf.
Solar energy technology has been improving dramatically,
and we want our members to have the opportunity to be
on the forefront. Not every member’s home is suited for a
rooftop solar installation, and many do not want to make that
investment. So we are developing Brunswick Electric’s first
community solar farms so that members will have the option
to purchase the output of solar panels and enjoy some of the
benefits of solar energy. Full details are coming next month,
but for now please know that this opportunity will be another
benefit of membership and the cooperative difference.
Community solar gives all members the opportunity to participate in this clean, renewable resource.
Page 22 | February 2016
Ready, Set, Charge!
BEMC recently installed 2 DC Fast
Charger ‘CarPower’ electric vehicle
charging stations in Brunswick County.
These fast charging stations are the
result of the collaboration between
BEMC, the manufacturer SigNet, and
Nissan – North America. Nissan was
looking for a location to showcase the
Fast Charger as part of its ongoing
outreach, and asked BEMC to place
them in the best locations.
CarPower’s northern location is in
Brunswick Forest, on property near
the development’s entrance and Port
City Java, and the southern location is
at Callahan’s of Calabash.
“We are delighted to be able to
offer this to our members, and BEMC
is pleased that Nissan chose us for a
partner in this venture,” said Monte
Herring, Manager of Distributive
Generation/Renewable Energy at
Brunswick Electric. “We’re always
working on ways to provide access
to the latest in energy trends and
technologies. This is really special
because DC Fast Chargers are
somewhat scarce, and EV drivers love
them because they can fully recharge
a vehicle in less time.”
There are fewer than a dozen in
North Carolina, and they can charge
an electric vehicle in approximately
20-30 minutes compared to the 4 to
6 hours it takes using a standard Level
2 charger.
Thanks to your generosity,
we have received $42,000
as of January 15 for this
year’s campaign. We are
constantly humbled by how
much our members want to
help each other. That’s why
we match dollar for dollar!
To help, visit bemc.org.
Pictured L-R are BEMC emloyees Nicky Nance, Heather Holbrook, Justin Pruitt and Monte
Herring
Monte Herring, Manager of Distributive Generation/Renewable Energy at Brunswick Electric,
demonstrates how to use the CarPower station in Brunswick Forest.
Aspiring basketball stars!
BEMC and NC’s Touchstone Energy
Cooperatives are once again offering
middle-school students the chance
to win a full scholarship to a boys’ or
girls’ summer basketball camp.
For more information visit
www.ncemcs.com/community/
sportsCamps.htm or contact
Heather Holbrook at 800-842-5871.
Deadline to apply is March 31, 2016.
Hurry! Applications accepted through
February 15, and will be awarded in April.
Applications are due March 17, and two
$5,000 scholarships to be awarded in May.
More info at bemc.org or call Heather
Holbrook at (800) 842-5871.
February 2016 | Page 23
VIZIO 50” TV (P50HDM), $150; 443-3397
Patio table 66” X 42”, glass top, 4 chairs; dinette table 60”
X 36”, glass top, 4 chairs, very good cond, $600; 477-9287
Lowrance HDS-5 GPS with transponder, $275 OBO;
Mercury 350 Alpha out drive, $400 OBO; 828-261-6274
Wood planer, chip and dust collector, band saw, compound
miter saw, routers; 209-1069
Barefoot Bay S/D, Holden Bch, lots #94 & #95, well & septic,
$40K; 5 acre lot in Belhaven, NC, on ICW, $65K; 864-944-9808
Sharp 27” old style TV, works perfectly, free; 253-8053
SeQual Eclipse 5 portable oxygen concentrator,
approved for airline travel, pulse or continuous flow, factory
reconditioned, $1,100; 287-3597
Fleetwood trailer, 2 BR /2B, 1/2 acre, well, boat rights,
Summer Place, $75,000; 842-5353
Dining table, solid oak, pickle finish w/six chairs, & china
cab, exc. cond, $500; 278-0935
Bench drill press, compound miter saw, Dewalt planer,
Grizzly band saw, various hand drills; 754-3295
Futon & mattress, chrome frame, full size, $50 OBO; 269-9215
Dock ramp, aluminum, 16 ft. x 3 ft; $1,600; 512-7803
Collectibles; glass candy dishes, trains, cars, Mammy
cookie jars, Daisy air rifle, old Hess trucks; 579-7054
1993 Ford F150 truck, 183K miles, $2,500; 287-4843
Adjustable electric bed, twin size, 1 yr old, Sealy Posturepedic
mattress, adjusts head, feet and/or height; $500; 575-2715
Thomas organ, color-glo plus, plays rhythms, $100; 417-8059
Aristocraft train set, #1 gauge, 45’ track, sound, smoke,
$450; Rainbow vacuum, $500; 262-4304
1999 Ford F-150 Lariat, black, loaded, one owner; couch,
chair, end tables, coffee table, red/gold pattern, pillows; 604-0994
2002 Cedar Creek fifth wheel, 34’ w/2 slides, good
cond, make offer; 842- 8103
Farm land, 16-19 acres, Whiteville, 3 BR house, pack house,
carport, HVAC; 642-2973
John Deere riding mower L118, 42”, $600; 842-7580
Reel tape rec/player, 20 tapes, $125; stereo cd/cassette/
FM, speakers and woofer, $125; 570-575-4144
Don’t miss the
Home Energy Savings
Field Guide
Look for it
in this issue
Carolina
Country
Magazine!
Train platform, hand-made, heavy duty, 4’ x 6’ w/skirting
and light access for model buildings, remove, $55; 754-7023
Electric fireplace insert, Dimplex 23”, model DF12309,
remote heat controls, Appr. 20”x10.5”, $150; 579-4786
Toro mower, self-propelled, $195; Kenmore vacuum
cleaner, $65; 579-2100
2007 doublewide 24×56, 2BR/2BA, fully furnished,
storage building, Holden Beach; 840-3425
2 Cemetery plots, Brunswick Memorial Gardens, Shallotte,
$1,950; 575-3266
Rudd 1800 central A/C unit, 3 ½ ton, 3 years old; Minn
Kota trolling motor, $100; Montgomery Ward trolling motor,
$100; 304-389-3866
Whirlpool refrigerator, 18.2 cu ft, freezer on top,
seasonal use, $175; 575-1091
Moving sale, several rooms of furniture, excellent cond,
crystal stemware; 579-6105
Pressure washer, Troy-Built Power Mate, 6.75 hp, $125;
250-1246
Elec-tra-mate electric fishing reels with rods; 2-4/0 –
1-6/0; 3 Penn reels w/rods; 988-4637
Get Carolina Country
on your tablet
A new, free version of Carolina
Country magazine for iPads and
Android tablets is now available.
Easy to read & easy to share, it also
has bonus content. To access:
1. Find Carolina Country at the App Store or Google Play
2. Download the free app
3. Select your co-op
4. Register with your BEMC
account number (on your bill)
5. Enjoy the current issue
PLEASE NOTE:
Registering for
the app means the
paper magazine
will no longer be
mailed to you.
Make home improvements
with a low interest loan!
Look for details in
the bonus guide
that came with
this month’s
magazine.
Visit
bemc.org
for details and
get an application.
HOW TO SUBMIT ADS: Ads must be received via email or fax no later than the first of each month. Ads will then appear in the following month’s publication due to
the printing schedule. Example: If ad is received by May 1, it will appear in the June issue of Carolina Country magazine.
This is a free service for BEMC members to advertise non-commercial items for sale. Ads run ONE TIME, are limited to three lines, and only one phone number. We
reserve the right to edit or refuse ads due to content, length or AVAILABLE SPACE. Please no email addresses, names or repeat ads. All numbers are 910 area code unless
otherwise listed. Some mobile providers require 10-digit dialing. BEMC does not endorse items advertised and is not responsible for reliability of items.
E-MAIL: [email protected] MAIL: BEMC, Attn: Watts For Sale, PO Box 826, Shallotte, NC 28459. FAX: 910.755.4299
Page 24 | February 2016