To the Board of Directors and all legal representatives,

We, the undersigned members of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, are exercising our rights under Article III, Section 3 of the Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative Bylaws and Title 33, Chapter 49 of the South Carolina Code of Laws.

Under these laws, members have the following rights and procedures available:

• Calling a Special Meeting: Per Article III, Section 3, members may call a special meeting with the written support of at least 10% of the co-op’s membership. This petition formally initiates that process and outlines the specific purposes of the requested meeting.

• Access to Records: Under Section 33-49-150, members have the legal right to request and review financial records if the purpose is reasonably related to their interest as members. We seek full transparency on recent rate increases and solar redistribution charges.

• Voting and Participation: As a democratically governed cooperative, members reserve the right to vote on key issues and elect leadership, ensuring accountability and equity in co-op operations.

We respectfully request that a special meeting be called to address the following:

1. Excessive peak-hour energy charges and billing inconsistencies disproportionately impacting low-income members;

2. Redistribution fees charged to solar-producing members, who are being penalized for contributing to the energy grid;

3. A formal review and release of financial statements, including rate-setting justifications, energy sourcing costs, and executive compensation;

4. Consideration of a third-party audit to evaluate rate structures and their financial impact on members;

5. A member-led discussion on fair and sustainable energy policies that benefit all cooperative stakeholders.

We are committed to restoring fairness, transparency, and trust in the cooperative we all own. As of this submission, our petition is supported by over 3,400 members, representing a growing collective of concerned and engaged co-op stakeholders.

Legal references:

• Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative Bylaws

• South Carolina Code of Laws: Title 33, Chapter 49

We look forward to your timely and lawful response.

Amended 3/21/2025

We, the undersigned members of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, urgently petition for the reevaluation of the recently implemented emPOWERment rate structure, which has imposed unmanageable financial burdens on our community. The significant increase in electricity costs during peak hours has forced many of us into a difficult and untenable position, where we must choose between essential needs, such as purchasing groceries or maintaining a safe, home during critical times.

The emPOWERment program has introduced time-of-use rates that are applied during designated peak hours typically when families are preparing for work and school. Or when these individuals are returning home to start their evening routines. These peak hours coincide with the most critical times in our daily routines, creating undue stress, particularly for working parents and school children , who are now faced with rising costs during the most energy-intensive periods of the day.

The impact of these new pricing structures is particularly devastating for families on fixed incomes and low-income households. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the blended median household income for Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative’s service area is $31,131. For these households, the additional burden of paying $70 to $200 more per month in electricity costs is unsustainable. As a result, many families are forced to make difficult decisions, such as heating or cooling their homes or buying food, and must contend with the anxiety of choosing between basic necessities.

Research from organizations such as the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy indicates that low-income households are disproportionately impacted by time-of-use rates because they have fewer opportunities to shift energy usage away from peak hours. This lack of flexibility means that many families in our community are faced with financial strain and potentially dangerous living conditions during cold or extreme weather periods.

The negative effects of this pricing structure are not isolated but affect all households within the cooperatives service areas. These families deserve fair and equitable pricing, not a system that forces some of them to choose between the fundamentals of survival.

We call on the following to take immediate and decisive action:

1. The South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC): We urge the PSC to conduct a thorough investigation into the emPOWERment rate structure, focusing on its disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, especially low-income and fixed-income households.

2. The Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS): We call for a comprehensive review of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative’s financial practices, including their rate-setting procedures and the long-term financial sustainability of these pricing structures. The ORS must ensure that rate structures are transparent, justifiable, and not exploitative.

3. The South Carolina Legislature: We respectfully urge state lawmakers to introduce and pass legislation that establishes protections against rate structures that unduly burden vulnerable families, particularly those on fixed incomes and in low-income brackets. Legislation must guarantee fair electricity pricing that prioritizes accessibility, affordability, and consumer protection.

We are committed to ensuring that access to essential utilities remains affordable and sustainable for all members of our community. This petition stands as a collective voice calling for immediate change, fairness, and responsible rate-setting in the utility sector.

By signing this petition, you demonstrate your support for affordable energy solutions and demand that Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and our elected officials take responsible action to protect the most vulnerable members of our community.