Capital Credit Information

Capital credits are one of the many benefits of Cooperative membership.  The Cooperative is a not-for-profit electric cooperative.  Capital credits are margins that result from excess revenues after all expenses have been paid.  These margins are then allocated to the members of the Cooperative each year after the Cooperative's independent financial statement audit. Margins retention is necessary in order to provide the Cooperative with working capital used to maintain and/or improve its infrastructure.

An allocation determines your share of the Cooperative's margins in a particular year.  Margins are allocated in proportion to the revenue received from each member.  This is referred to as your capital credit allocation.  A retirement is the amount you receive back as a capital credit refund.  Once allocated, the assigned margins (or capital credits) are retained by the Cooperative as a source of working capital used to maintain and/or improve its infrastructure.

Each year, the Cooperative's Board of Directors review the financial condition of the Cooperative to determine if a retirement of capital credits can be made.  Capital credits are retired using the FIFO method.  That means the capital credits that have been invested in the Cooperative for the longest period of time are returned first.  Capital credit retirement checks will be mailed to current and former members during the month of October, once approved by the Board of Directors.  The Cooperative is currently retiring capital credits on a 25-30 year rotation cycle.

A member who terminates service no longer receives additional capital credit allocations.  The balance in the member's capital credit account is maintained until it is retired in full.  It is important you keep us informed of your current address and telephone number so you will receive your check when retirements are approved and paid out.

Patronage capital retirement payouts are generally nontaxable income if energy was used for residential purposes.  Patronage capital retirement payouts may be subject to tax if the energy was used for nonresidential purposes, such as in a trade or business that takes a deduction for the original purchase of electric.  We suggest that you consult with your tax advisor regarding your personal situation.

In the case of dissolution of marriage, the Cooperative must receive appropriate legal documentation as proof of the dissolution of marriage between spouses in order to make any changes in the ownership of the capital credits.  Otherwise, if the capital credits were associated with a joint membership, they will remain in both member's names.  If the capital credits were associated with a single membership, the capital credits will remain in the original member's name.

The Cooperative's Board of Directors will allow the capital credits to be retired early or paid back to the legal representative(s) of your family member's estate.  Capital credits that are claimed early due to the death of a family member are returned at a discounted rate.  This discount rate is used to determine the net present value of the immediate payout of the deceased member's capital credits.  Present value is a calculation to determine the current value of a future payment (the current value of $1 increases as time passes).  The discount or present value rate for an immediate estate payout is calculated using:  (1) the deceased member's capital credit account balance to be paid out in future years;  (2) an interest rate which is equivalent to the Cooperative's current weighted average cost of capital;  (3) the Cooperative's current capital credit payout rotation cycle.  Forms to apply for an estate retirement payout are available at both of the Cooperative's office locations.  Forms may also be downloaded here.  The required paperwork is to be received by March 31st of each year to eligible for an estate retirement payout in that year, pending the approval of the Cooperative's Board of Directors.

Please review the list of unclaimed capital credits below. If you see your name or the names of family, friends or associates, please have them contact SREC at 607-776-4161 or 1-800-843-3414. We appreciate your assistance in helping to ensure that everyone receives their capital credit benefit.  

Unclaimed Capital Credits Listing

The Cooperative's Board of Directors will allow the capital credits to be retired early or paid back to the legal representative(s) of your family member's estate.  Capital credits that are claimed early due to the death of a family member are returned at a discounted rate.  This discount rate is used to determine the net present value of the immediate payout of the deceased member's capital credits.  Present value is a calculation to determine the current value of a future payment (the current value of $1 increases as time passes).  The discount or present value rate for an immediate estate payout is calculated using:  (1) the deceased member's capital credit account balance to be paid out in future years;  (2) an interest rate which is equivalent to the Cooperative's current weighted average cost of capital;  (3) the Cooperative's current capital credit payout rotation cycle.  Forms to apply for an estate retirement payout are available at both of the Cooperative's office locations.  Forms may also be downloaded here.  The required paperwork is to be received by March 31st of each year to eligible for an estate retirement payout in that year, pending the approval of the Cooperative's Board of Directors.