What are Capital Credits?

An electric cooperative operates on an at-cost, not-for-profit, basis by annually “allocating” to each member, based upon the member’s purchase of electricity, operating revenue remaining at the end of the year; later, as financial condition permits, these allocated amounts—capital credits—are retired. Capital credits represent the most significant source of equity for SWEC. Since a cooperative’s members are also the people the co-op serves, capital credits reflect each member’s ownership in, and contribution of capital to, the cooperative. This differs from dividends investor-owned utilities pay shareholders, who may or may not be customers of the utility.

Member-owned, not-for-profit electric co-ops set rates to generate enough money to pay operating costs, make payments on any loans, and provide an emergency reserve. At the end of each year, we subtract operating expenses from the operating revenue collected during the year. The balance is called an operating “margin.”

Margins are allocated to members as capital credits based on their purchases from the cooperative—how much power the member used. Member purchases may also be called patronage.

No. Within the electric industry, capital credits only exist at not-for-profit electric cooperatives owned by their members.

Each year, the SWEC board of directors makes a decision on whether to retire capital credits based on the financial health of the cooperative. During some years, the co-op may experience high growth in the number of new accounts, or severe storms may result in the need to spend additional funds to repair lines. These and other events might increase costs and decrease member equity, causing the board not to retire capital credits. For this reason, SWEC’s ability to retire capital credits reflects the cooperative’s strength and financial stability. The board alone decides whether to retire capital credits.

No. All capital credits allocated for every year members have been served by SWEC are maintained until such time as the board retires them.

The SWEC board of directors makes a decision each year whether or not to retire capital credits. When the cooperative is strong enough financially and member equity levels high enough, the board directs staff to retire some portion of past years’ capital credits.

Inactive or former members who no longer purchase electricity from SWEC (but who purchased electricity during the years being retired) will receive a check when the board of directors approves the years in which service was provided. Due to the expense involved in processing printed checks, the minimum retirement check that will be written is $10. If the retirement is less than $10, it will be applied to the following year’s retirement, until the minimum is reached.

If you move or no longer have electric service with SWEC, it is important you inform the cooperative of your current address, so future retirements can be properly mailed to you. If you purchased electricity during the years being retired, then you are entitled to a capital credit retirement, even if you move out of SWEC’s service area. If we have your current mailing address, then SWEC will send your retirement check by mail.