Northern Electric belongs to its members. As owners, members have a responsibility to help finance their business. They do this by using our services and by allowing the Co-op to retain any money collected in excess of actual operating costs. The money is used to build and maintain the facilities needed to serve the Co-op's members and to service our long-term debt. This money is considered to be capital furnished by the members—capital that will be returned to the members at a later date. While the Co-op uses the money members’ capital credits are considered "allocated" but not "retired."

Capital Credits are retired at the discretion of the Board as long as the financial condition of the Co-op will not be impaired. As the cash position allows, the Board votes to retire and return to the members a portion of their allocated capital credits. The Northern Board has decided to retire allocations for distribution capital credits first. These payouts are returned according to a retirement schedule and include a percentage of all the outstanding distribution capital credits.

The other allocation made to members covers our Generation and Transmission (G&T) capital credits or margins returned to us from our power suppliers Basin Electric and East River. The Board has voted to continue allocating G&T capital credits to the members but they will only retire this portion if our operations and cash budget allows. In the near future, the Board and Management agree that retaining the G& T portion of our earnings can have a greater impact if used to support our current operations, supplement our razor-thin revenues and help keep rate increases to a minimum.

Because members may receive Capital Credits sometime in the future, it is imperative that they keep the Co-op informed of current and future addresses.

If members discontinue service with Northern Electric, notify the Co-op of any subsequent address changes so that any Capital Credit refunds can continue to be sent.

Northern Electric also needs to be notified by a relative or other legal representative when a customer of record passes away so that the account can be put in another person’s name or closed. NEC will refund the deceased customer’s Capital Credits to the customer’s estate in a lump sum payment if the account was listed solely in the customer's name and is closed. For an estate to receive a refund, a relative or representative must provide Northern Electric with a Letter of Administration that designates a legal representative of the estate.

Please note that customers do not receive lump-sum refund checks upon discontinuing service with Northern Electric. Capital Credit refunds are usually made on an annual basis upon Board approval and according to the financial condition of the Co-op.

Questions About Your Capital Credits:

If you have any questions concerning your Capital Credits, contact us.