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Blue Ridge Energies, LLC Acquires the Assets of Independence Oil and Gas, LLC and LP Gas on Nov. 6

Nov. 7, 2013. Blue Ridge Energies, LLC, a propane and heating fuels subsidiary of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, has acquired the assets of Independence Oil and LP Gas.

breBlue Ridge Energies will initially serve its new customers from offices previously operated by Independence Oil and Gas in West Jefferson and Independence, VA. Service is also available from Blue Ridge Energies’ Ashe County customer service and showroom facilities located in Blue Ridge Electric’s district office at 2375 Hwy 163 in West Jefferson. For customers near Independence, VA, Blue Ridge Energies provides customer service from Blue Ridge Electric’s district office at 1889 Hwy 21 South in the town of Sparta, Alleghany County, which is just ten miles away from Independence.

“We’re very excited to be serving our new customers with the same great service we’ve been known for since our company was formed,” said Glenda Christian, chief operating officer of Blue Ridge Energies. “Like our parent company, Blue Ridge Electric, we are focused on giving our customers the most responsive, personalized care–we’re a home town company that believes in improving local quality of life and taking care of those we serve.”

Christian said the company care includes offering competitive prices and special programs such as a senior citizen discount, $50 credit for referring new customers, budget billing and other customer care services such as 24-hour emergency service and online account information and pay online options.

Blue Ridge Energies was formed in 1998 by Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation to provide heating fuel services to local communities and to benefit the members of the cooperative by generating income to help offset rising industry costs and keep member rates as low as possible. 

“By aggressively pursuing innovative opportunities through our subsidiaries, we have been able to shield our members from much of the impact of rising wholesale power costs that all electric utilities are experiencing,” said Doug Johnson, chief executive officer of Blue Ridge Electric. “These costs are occurring due to the growing number–and cost–of environmental regulations,” he explained. “The cooperative has been able to offset rising costs through a combined effort of securing the best cost available for wholesale power, successful operation of two subsidiaries and an employee-led Work Smart effort to control internal operational cost.

“I’m also very pleased we’re able to provide jobs to local residents and deliver a critical service at competitive prices with the best customer care possible,” Johnson added. “It’s very important to be supportive of our local communities and contribute to the quality of life in all ways possible,” he added.

Blue Ridge Energies has served Ashe County for more than 13 years and has a service area stretching from Catawba County to Alleghany County. Blue Ridge Energies also maintains bulk storage facilities and operations locations in West Jefferson and Lenoir.

Customers can contact Blue Ridge Energies at 336-372-1742, 336-526-1730 or 276-773-9113. To learn more about the company’s gas and fuel services as well as its line of gas products and services, visit www.BlueRidgeEnergies.com or drop by any customer service office.

Blue Ridge Energies provides propane and heating fuels to residential and commercial customers throughout northwest NC and operates showrooms featuring gas logs, fireplaces, water heaters, generators, and more from each Blue Ridge Electric district office. It is a separate, for profit subsidiary of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, an electric cooperative with headquarters in Lenoir, NC, and district offices in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany counties.