This is more than a refund. It’s one of the few times you’ll receive a tangible reminder that you’re not a customer, but an owner and member of your electric cooperative. It’s one of the clearest examples of what makes a cooperative different. We exist to serve you.
If you joined after 2002, your capital credits are continuing to accumulate and will be retired in future years as the Board approves additional capital credit retirements.

Unlike investor-owned utilities, which send profits to shareholders, Pee Dee Electric is not-for-profit and is member-owned. We are accountable to the members we serve. Each year, after covering operating expenses and planning for future needs, any remaining margins are allocated back to members based on their energy use. These allocations are called capital credits, and they represent your ownership in Pee Dee Electric.

Before they’re retired, those funds help pay for new power lines, maintain equipment, improve reliability and reduce the amount the cooperative must borrow. When the cooperative’s financial position allows, the Board authorizes the retirement of a portion of previously allocated capital credits while ensuring the cooperative remains financially strong enough to continue providing safe, reliable service. It’s a cycle that supports long-term stability for the cooperative while returning real value to the members who helped build it.

Every electric bill helps power homes today while investing in the cooperative’s future. That’s what Member Economic Participation means: members contribute to the cooperative’s success and ultimately share in that success.

To date, Pee Dee Electric has returned more than $22.3 million to current and former members. It’s a tradition that reflects the value of cooperative membership and one we’re proud to continue.

I want to personally thank you for the trust you place in your cooperative. Every capital credit check tells the same story: when the cooperative succeeds, our members benefit. That’s the cooperative difference, a tradition we’re proud to continue for generations to come. Together, we’re building a stronger cooperative and a brighter future for our communities we proudly serve.