Electric co-ops are owned by the members they serve

That means we operate without a profit motive, focusing instead on delivering safe, reliable electricity at the lowest possible cost. So what happens when there’s money left over at the end of the year?

Allocating your share back to you

Each year, after covering operating expenses and planning for future improvements, the remaining funds are called margins. If we were an investor-owned utility instead of a co-op, those funds might go to outside investors. Instead, the margins are allocated back to you.

• You earn them automatically based on how much electricity you use each year
• The more electricity you purchase, the larger your share of the margins
• We keep track of the margins you earn each year

Why doesn’t the co-op pay them out right away?

The co-op uses these margins to:

• Maintain steady cash flow
• Reduce the need for borrowing
• Invest in infrastructure and reliability improvements

This approach helps keep rates stable over time, which benefits us all.

When do you get paid?

Periodically – typically every couple of years – the co-op’s board of directors determines if it’s financially responsible to approve returning margins from certain years to the membership – and then we do so in the form of capital credit payments. If you were a member during those years, you receive a check in the mail for your share.

What if you move?

Even if you move out of the service area, your capital credits don’t disappear. As long as the co-op has your current mailing address, you’ll still receive any future payments you’re owed.

A benefit that comes full circle

Capital credits are more than just a check, they’re a reflection of the cooperative difference. You’re not just a customer, you’re an owner. And everything your co-op does is with you in mind.