Supply, N.C. (February 16, 2021) – Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) continues its restoration efforts in the areas hit hardest by last night’s severe weather. As of 11 am the cooperative is reporting around 3,000 outages, down from a peak of 35,000 less than twelve hours ago. BEMC is working with county and city officials to expedite the final restoration efforts. 

The storm’s strength caused extensive damage to the cooperative’s transmission system, including downed poles and trees, with the most significant impact felt in the communities around Ocean Ridge in Ocean Isle Beach.

“We’ve put the full strength of our resources into the restoration effort and are collaborating with our contractors and local governments to complete it as quickly as possible,” said Josh Winslow, BEMC’s CEO. “Our thoughts continue to be with all who’ve experienced this storm’s devastation; please know that you are our priority.”

BEMC is hoping to complete restoration efforts today and is asking for members’ patience as they work with community partners to ensure the safety of all involved.

For your safety, never go near downed or sagging power lines and be aware that fallen lines may be under debris. Always assume power lines are energized and report damage immediately by calling 800-682-5309. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for frequent updates.

Additional Resources

2-16-2021Outage Restoration11am

Supply, N.C. (February 16, 2021) –Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation(BEMC) is currently reporting over 7,000 power outages caused by severe weather that raged through their service area before midnight. The storm’s strength caused extensive damage to their transmission system by toppling poles and trees, impacting around 35,000 members at its peak.

Crews are out in force, working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to cooperative members. With backfeeding technology, power was restored to around 10,000 members before 2 a.m. BEMC estimates that some of these outages will extend into the afternoon hours of Tuesday, February 16, 2021.

“Our priority is to restore power to all of our members across our service area as quickly and safely as possible,” said Josh Winslow, BEMC’s CEO. “Our thoughts are with the individuals who have suffered loss as a result of these storms.”

The storm left the community around Ocean Ridge in Ocean Isle Beach with much devastation and dangerous conditions. We ask members to be patient as we coordinate with county officials to ensure safety in the area as restoration efforts progress.

For your safety, never go near downed or sagging power lines and be aware that fallen lines may be under debris. Always assume power lines are energized and report damage immediately by calling 800-682-5309. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for frequent updates.

Additional Resources

2-16-2021 Outage

BEMC OFFICES WILL REOPEN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15

Supply, N.C. (February 12, 2021) – On Monday, February 15, Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) will reopen all district offices to members. To ensure employees and members’ safety, the cooperative will follow the same protective measures that were implemented in May 2020 to maintain social distancing and provide other safety protocols. 

The following protective measures will be in place: 

•    All payments must be made at the drive-thru or bill payment terminal.
•    Traffic flow will be directed by enter and exit signage, directional arrows and markings on the floor for direction and maintaining a 6’ distance. 
•    Glass barriers with half-moon spaces for paperwork transfer will separate employees and members.
•    A limited number of members awaiting assistance will be allowed in the lobby, and additional members will be asked to wait outside of the building until they are called in via their cell phone.  If a member doesn’t have a cell phone, one will be provided. 

These modifications have proven to be effective in keeping our community safe during our reopening, and allowing us to maintain high-quality service.  Members having questions or concerns before visiting one of the offices should call (800) 842-5871.

Additional Resources

PR BEMC reopening 2-11

Supply, N.C. (January 11, 2021) – Josh Winslow, CEO and general manager of Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC), a local electric cooperative serving over 82,000 members, has been elected to the Board of Directors of a national information technology organization. Winslow will serve a three-year board term with National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC), a member-owned cooperative providing leading-edge solutions to utilities at the forefront of industry change. 

“It is an honor to serve on the NISC board as our cooperative and utilities nationwide work toward a future centered on innovative service, and data-driven business operations and management,” Winslow said. “We at BEMC are just beginning to realize the potential for ways we can leverage data to improve operations, finances and member relationships. I am eager to further the capabilities of all our organizations in these areas and lead together with strategy, vision and integrity as a member of NISC’s board of directors.”

BEMC is committed to building a brighter future for their service area by executing innovative local services and collaborating with partnering electric cooperatives. Creating a modern electric grid that is more flexible, resilient and capable of supporting new energy solutions allows BEMC to offer their members a Time-of-Use rate option and an opportunity to receive Beat the Peak alerts. 

Winslow assumed the role of BEMC CEO in 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from NC State University, and he is a licensed professional engineer. In his more than 16 years with the co-op he has served as a staff electrical engineer, manager of operations, and most recently as Chief Operating Officer. 

He was elected to the NISC board after an electronic ballot for the 2020 election was launched on Oct. 15 and closed on Dec. 1. His term will expire at NISC’s annual meeting in 2024. 

Additional Resources

Josh Winslow NISC

BEMC IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY GRANTS

Supply, N.C., (12/3/2020) – – Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) invites local agencies and groups to apply for a 2021 BEMC Community Grant before February 15, 2021. The program began in 2003 and continues to provide grants of up to $2,500 to local groups who provide family service programs, civic and community programs, cultural and arts programs, emergency services, and community development activities.
    “This year, the organizations that serve our communities are more important than ever,” said Josh Winslow, CEO and General Manager. “The increased demand brought by COVID-19 has stretched their resources, and we’re eager to help them continue their good work. We encourage groups in the qualifying categories to apply for a Community Grant, and we appreciate what these agencies do for our community.”
    Last year, 36 projects were selected from a field of 68 applicants to receive a total of $36,500 for projects in Brunswick and Columbus counties. Since inception, several hundred projects with more than $616,000 in funding benefitted members throughout the BEMC service area.
    To learn more or submit an application, please visit www.bemc.org/community-grants or call (800) 842-5871 for more information.

Additional Resources

CG Announcement PR

Supply, N.C., (November 9, 2020) – Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) awarded $32,110 in Bright Ideas education grants to 29 local teachers to fund engaging projects for their students. More than 7,000 students at schools in Brunswick and Columbus counties will benefit from these grants.

Typically, these grants bring creative projects to life inside classrooms. However, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, BEMC has been flexible with the types of projects awarded to ensure that all students are able to benefit, whether they are in the classroom or learning remotely. Grants are awarded for projects in all subject areas, including music, art, history, reading, science and math.

“Teachers have been going above and beyond to help our children in these challenging times, and their ability to solve distance learning issues while finding ways to engage their students is impressive,” said Josh Winslow, CEO. “It’s a privilege to help them turn ideas into reality and keep the school year on track.”

BEMC has contributed more than $680,000 to local teachers since the Bright Ideas grant program began in 1994 and is one of 26 electric cooperatives in North Carolina offering Bright Ideas grants. North Carolina’s electric cooperatives collectively have awarded more than $12.9 million in Bright Ideas funding since the program’s inception, making nearly 12,359 projects possible and benefitting more than 2.5 million students. 

Additional Resources

PR BI Winners

BEMC TO LAUNCH MEMBER-FOCUSED PEAK DEMAND INITIATIVE IN DECEMBER

Supply, N.C. (October 9, 2020) – Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) will begin a new demand reduction initiative, Beat the Peak, in December. The objective of Beat the Peak is to level off peaks in energy usage that occur during the times of highest demand, therefore reducing wholesale power costs.

“We’ll be asking members to collectively reduce energy usage for a short period of time,” said CEO Josh Winslow. “There is strength in numbers, and by working together to lower demand during these times we can reduce the rate we pay for wholesale power, keeping everyone’s electric bill as low as possible.”

Beginning in December, BEMC members will be notified by text and/or email when extreme temperatures—like cold winter mornings or hot summer afternoons—are in the forecast. These “peak” energy periods create greater demand for electricity that drive up energy costs. Beat the Peak alerts encourage members to adjust their thermostats in real time and to shift when they use large appliances, reducing the overall demand for power. This allows the cooperative to better manage costs, saving money for everyone. Members that wish not to participate in the alert program will have a simple opt-out option.

Additional Resources

10-9 Beat the Peak PR

BEMC TO HOLD ITS 81st ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING VIRTUALLY

Supply, N.C. (September 10, 2020) – Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) has announced that its 2020 Annual Membership Meeting will be held in a virtual-only format on September 26. No in-person meeting will be held this year due to public health concerns related to COVID-19. Members will have the opportunity to register the week before the meeting at all three office locations from September 21st – September 25th while following CDC guidelines. Gifts will be available to the first 2,000 members who register, and each member registered will be entered into a random drawing for cash prizes, with winners being announced during the virtual meeting. Members do not need to attend the meeting to win.

“We look forward to socializing with our members each year, making this a difficult decision,” said Josh Winslow, BEMC CEO. “Ultimately, our commitment is to the health and safety of both employees and members. We have lots of exciting and important information to share, so we look forward to members joining us online on the 26th.” 

Additional Resources

News Release Registration

Supply, N.C. (8/11/20) – Brunswick Electric and the Town of Oak Island continue to collaborate in their efforts to complete the final phases of power restoration in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias.  With safety and efficiency as top priorities, the process is proceeding as follows:

Brunswick Electric received a list of properties from the Town that were deemed unsafe for utility power, and continues to work closely with inspection teams to disconnect them.

Once these properties are disconnected, the beachfront and second row areas will be re-energized.
The disconnected properties will require necessary repairs and re-inspection before they can be reconnected. This process will continue on an individual, case by case basis until restoration is complete.

“Restoration is always an organized methodical process,” said Josh Winslow, BEMC CEO. “Following this process ensures that undamaged homes in the hardest hit areas are able to receive power, leaving us to focus on the ones that need greater repair soon after.”

Additional Resources

Press Release 8-11 Restoration Update

Supply, N.C. (8/10/20) – Brunswick Electric has been out in force working with the Town of Oak Island to assess damage and restore power to as many homes and businesses as possible since Hurricane Isaias made landfall last week. Today, as of 4 pm, power had been restored to 285 more locations, with 770 remaining.

Conditions are still unsafe for power restoration in some areas, and with safety as the top priority, the Town of Oak Island and inspectors are working together to identify and repair electrical issues. BEMC stands ready to re-energize these homes when the issues are corrected. 

“Our crews are following Town inspectors, and once a section of houses passes inspection we work quickly to restore power to that section,” said Josh Winslow, CEO. “Please know that we won’t stop until the outage number goes to zero. Thank you again for your patience.”

Additional Resources

Press Release 8-10 Restoration