Not-for-Profit, Member-Owned: How Capital Credits Benefit You
As a member-owner of Pioneer Electric Cooperative, you enjoy many benefits—one of the most significant being the return of capital credits.
Because we are a not-for-profit cooperative, we operate at cost. When our revenue exceeds our operating expenses, our board of directors—who are elected by you, the members—may choose to distribute, or retire, capital credits back to you based on each member’s electricity use.
The board carefully determines when and how capital credits are refunded, always prioritizing the best interests of the membership. The co-op retains funds to reinvest in essential infrastructure, equipment, and system reliability, helping to keep service dependable while reducing the need for borrowing. When financial conditions allow, a portion of these capital credits is returned as a bill credit to current members or a check for former members.
Capital credits allocated to a member will remain in their name regardless of their membership status. However, it is important that you ensure Pioneer has your current mailing address on file, even after you leave, to help ensure your check is received when your capital credits are retired.
This process is one of the many ways the cooperative business model benefits you, demonstrates commitment to serving members, and ensures financial stability.
