A Blue Ridge-Westminster marriage?

At their meeting tomorrow, Westminster elected leaders take up first reading of an ordinance to enter into a contract with the Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative.  Part of the background information on the agenda reads:  “This agreement allows the City to utilize BREC’s expertise and leverage its capabilities to operate, maintain, and manage the City’s electric system.  The contract includes provisions for compensating BREC for its participation, enabling the City to benefit from BREC’s market leverage and expertise.  This partnership will enhance the reliability of electric services to City customers and help manage costs.” Discussions of the proposed collaboration started in 2022. BREC is a regional power provider classified as an member-owned utility, while Westminster contracts with PMPA for wholesale electricity, which it then retails to its customers.