WHAT ARE CAPITAL CREDITS?

As a not-for-profit cooperative, after Wheatland Electric deducts costs and upkeep for yearly operations, the net profit is reinvested into the company to provide cash flow, collateral to show stability and to obtain loans. Any net profit over those costs is allocated back to our members in the form of capital credits.

Every member of Wheatland Electric has shares in capital credits. The more electricity you buy and the longer you use the service, the more monetary equity (allocations) you accumulate. Allocations are the total sum of annual equity accrued by the member during their prior year of service.

As a cooperative, we don’t focus on profit margins because we are a not-for-profit business. By definition, a cooperative is an enterprise that is collectively owned and operated for the mutual benefit of all members. These benefits include the generation, accumulation and return of capital.

AM I ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE CAPITAL CREDITS REFUNDS?

As either a current member or a former member of Wheatland Electric Cooperative, you are entitled to receive a dividend. Refunds will be issued to the account holder’s name.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "ALLOCATED" AND "RETIRED" CAPITAL CREDITS?

Allocated capital credits appear as an entry on the permanent financial records of the cooperative and reflect a member's equity in Wheatland Electric Cooperative. When the board of directors votes and approves to retire capital credits, that money is distributed back to the membership who were members during the time frame being retired.

WHY AREN’T THE ALLOCATIONS PAID OUT ALL AT ONE TIME?

Wheatland Electric needs to maintain adequate cash flow and collateral to show stability to obtain loans. If the business showed no margin/profit, Wheatland Electric would be unstable and unable to build, improve or maintain its electric system.

IS THERE ANY REASON THAT I WOULD NOT RECEIVE A CAPITAL CREDITS REFUND?

The only time a member would not receive the capital credits allocated to them would be if they had a bad debt at Wheatland Electric, including any reasonable interest and late fees resulting from that debt. In this case, Wheatland Electric would deduct what is owed to the co-op and the rest of the capital credits, if any, would be refunded at the current refund schedule.

IF I MOVE, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO KEEP RECEIVING CAPITAL CREDITS REFUNDS?

To receive your capital credits check once you leave our service, it is important to keep us informed of your current address. Many checks go unclaimed each year because we are unable to locate previous members.