Click a topic for more information: Transportation Utilities Electrical Service Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation (BREMCO) (828) 264-8894 North Carolina is noted for its positive business climate and the quality of its workforce. The area served by Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation has contributed to this reputation. BREMCO was organized in 1936 by local citizens and has grown into one of the most reliable power sales suppliers in the state. The extremely low outage factor is a credit to its professional engineering staff and the fine job done by all of its employees. BREMCO is a non-profit cooperative, serving over 45,700 consumers in western North Carolina. Ninety-seven percent of its electricity is acquired wholesale from the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation; the balance is acquired from Southeastern Power Administration and from individual members. BREMCO is one of the original 27 member co-ops of the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation and is a retail supplier of electricity in five counties of North Carolina: Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany and Wilkes; it also serves small portions of Avery and Alexander counties. BREMCO has a central office and four district offices. The Watauga County district office services more than 6,500 miles of line, and serves all of Watauga County outside the city limits of Boone. The Corporation had in excess of $70 million in annual sales in 1997. New River Light and Power Company (828) 264-3671 New River Light and Power Company is a subsidiary of Appalachian State University, but operates physically and financially independent of the institution. New River Light and Power is the supplier of retail electricity to all residential, commercial, and industrial customers within the Town of Boone. It buys its power wholesale from BREMCO, and its rate structure is subject to approval by the North Carolina Utilities Commission. Gas Companies Seven propane gas companies, all located within the county, serve Watauga County. All companies support residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural users. Appalachian Energy (828) 262-3637 Blossman Gas (828) 297-5399 Blue Ridge Energies (828) 264-3521 Freeman Gas (828) 963-7046 Heritage Propane (828) 963-5189 Suburban Propane (828) 264-9008 Wallace Propane (828) 297-1115 Fuel Oil Companies Several fuel oil providers serve Watauga County: Appalachian Energy (828) 262-3637 Appalachian/Hodges Oil (828) 264-4036 Blowing Rock Oil (828) 295-9563 Colvard Oil (828) 264-3051 Hayes Oil (828) 262-1274 Telephone Service BellSouth Corporation (828) 780-2355 - residential service (800) 945-6500 - business service Skyline Telephone Membership Corporation (828) 297-2603 - both residential and business service The customer’s preference of long distance providers is available. Special Services available include Fiber Optics, ISDN Service, Digital Switching and Internet Access. Cellular Services Both digital and analog cellular services are available through the following carriers: Carolina West Wireless (828) 264-5007 Verizon Wireless (828) 265-2040 Cingular Wireless (828) 265-4800 or (828) 264-2355 Internet Service Thanks in part to the presence of a major state university and a regional medical facility, all forms of Internet access are available in Watauga County. Services include dial-up, cable modem, DSL, T-1, and other options. Local Internet access is available through: Appalachian Technologies (828) 262-5598 BellSouth DSL (877) 474-2375 Blue Ridge Media (828) 265-2730 Charter Pipeline Cable Modem (828) 264-9411 Horizon Mediaworks (828) 265-4026 SkyBest (800) 759-2226 Volaris Online (828) 268-2819 Water and Sewer Town of Boone - Water and Sewer Availability Fee: The Availability Fee is a one-time fee established to create a capital fund necessary for the construction of water and sewer projects created by new demand being placed on the system. Fees are based on life expectancy of the water and sewer plants, and costs are associated with replacing and/or expanding plants as demand increased. Fees are the same for residential and commercial customers. Fees are based on daily consumption estimates and are charged at $2.50 per gallon/water and $3.00 per gallon/sewer. Wastewater Treatment The Boone Wastewater Treatment Facility was recently upgraded and has a sewer capacity of 4.82 million gallons per day, with an available surplus of 1.3 million gallons per day. Solid Waste Disposal The Town of Boone handles public solid waste disposal within the city limits. Other residents in the county utilize well-located disposal and container sites and/or contract Garbage Disposal Services, Inc. (828) 264-3689 or other private companies. Recycling Recycling services in Watauga County are provided at container sites, as well as by the Town of Boone (828) 262-4550 and Garbage Disposal Services, Inc. (828) 264-3689.