In November 2023, NWEC returned $590,800 to member-owners in the form of capital credits. But, what are capital credits?
North Western Electric Cooperative Inc (NWEC), is a not-for-profit organization. Owned and operated by its member-consumers, the money to cover day-to-day operating costs of the cooperative comes directly from the members paying their monthly electric bills. At the end of the year, NWEC subtracts operating expenses from the amount of money collected and the remaining balance is called the margin. The margins left over at the end of the year are allocated, or assigned, to your capital credit account based on individual patronage (the number of kilowatt hours you purchased from NWEC each year).
Your capital credits account, similar to a bank account, is the accumulation of margins that have been allocated to you each year based on your patronage. At the end of each year, the cooperative deposits your allocated patronage into your capital credit account. Each year, the board of trustees retires 20% of the previous year's capital credits. They may also retire any additional amounts based upon the financial stability of the cooperative. The board of trustees was delegated this responsibility in the cooperative's code of regulations.
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Active Members - When the board retires capital credits, the cooperative will apply a credit to the bill of your main account.
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Previous Members - If you have moved out of NWEC's territory, we will mail a check to you for any eligible retirement, so it is extremely important that we have your current mailing address on file. Inactive members will receive a check if the retired amount is over $5.
Capital Credits Estates
The capital credits of a deceased member are payable without waiting for a general retirement, however that payment is not automatic. A representative of the estate of the deceased member must contact NWEC to request forms which must be submitted along with a copy of the death certificate. A check for the full amount held in the deceased member's capital credit account is then issued to the estate.
Capital Credits Estate Brochure