The holiday season brings a spirit of generosity and compassion. It’s a time to reflect on our many blessings and uplift those in need. While this is certainly a special time of year, cooperatives like Halifax EMC are deeply rooted in giving back to their local communities year-round. Our mission is delivering exceptional value and service to our communities with care.

Our purpose is to provide our members with safe and reliable electric services, enriching our diverse communities through education, economic growth, and community involvement. That’s why we organize fundraising events for local non-profits such as 4-H and sponsor kid’s camps, to make a positive, meaningful impact for our community. You help us power that purpose, too. Halifax EMC’s Operation Roundup program is made possible through members’ participation in “rounding up” electric bills the next dollar amount. Your generous contributions support local charitable organizations and community services.

Another way Halifax EMC gives back is by investing in tomorrow’s leaders. Through presentations at local schools, scholarship opportunities and the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour program, we aim to empower students for a brighter future. When we invest in our local youth, we strengthen the fabric of our community.

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, we believe in giving credit where credit is due—to the members who shape our co-op. One of the ways we do this is through capital credits. Because Halifax EMC operates at cost, we give cash back to our members rather than outside investors or shareholders.

Here’s how capital credits work

Halifax EMC members use the electricity we provide and pay their monthly bills, and we track their business with the co-op over time. Halifax EMC pays all operating expenses throughout the year, and if any operating revenue is leftover, we allocate it as capital credits. When financial conditions permit, the co-op’s board of directors votes to pay capital credits back to the members. Halifax EMC sends you a check or applies a credit to your energy bill.

We are pleased to announce that your electric cooperative will return $190,000 in capital credits to its members. You should receive capital credits if you were a Halifax EMC member during 2003. If the capital credit amount is more than $99, eligible members will receive them in the form of a check.

Capital credit amounts less than $99 will be credited to the member’s account and will be reflected on the December or January bill. Capital credits are just one of the many benefits of co-op membership. Giving back to our local members instead of outside parties is one of the many aspects that set cooperatives apart from other types of businesses.

Our members guide every decision we make and are the reason our co-op exists. To us, you’re more than a customer. This holiday season, we hope you’re proud to be part of a community-focused co-op that puts people before profits.