In late December, the Powder River Energy capital credit retirement “refund” will be processed. This process returns a portion of the money members paid for electric usage during chosen years. Some Powder River Energy members will receive a credit on their bill or a check in the mail as a result.

All members are apprised of their cooperative capital credit allocation on their bill statements each August. The PRECorp Board of Directors reviews the financial condition of the cooperative and can approve a retirement of a portion of accrued capital credits, based on the financial well-being of the cooperative.

This year’s capital credit retirement is for electricity used during 1984, 1985, 1986 and part of 1987. Any member who had service with PRECorp in one or more of those years, will receive a percentage of the capital credit retirement.

The Board also approved the retirement of all capital credits of less than $20 to all inactive members. In all, PRECorp members will receive approximately $13.5 million through retirement of capital credits.

Some members did not leave forwarding addresses. Unless they are claimed within three years, those funds will revert back to the cooperative and can be retained as equity or be used for the benefit of the membership.

As in past years, PRECorp will not issue checks for under $5. The retired amount will remain on the member’s account and will be refunded once it reaches $5.

Capital credits are a major benefit of being a member of an electric cooperative and are a reflection of one of the seven cooperative principles: Member Economic Participation. At the close of each fiscal year, all revenue received in excess of expenses for that year are allocated to each member as a capital contribution based on patronage contributed through power purchases.

The total amount in a member’s capital credit account represents the value of ownership in the cooperative. This value or capital contribution is returned to the membership over time in the form of capital credits.

Since 2011, PRECorp has provided the opportunity for members to help build the Foundation’s giving to non-profit organizations in northeast Wyoming. To date, the membership has generously donated more than $61,000 of their earned capital credits to the Foundation.

If you would like to donate retired or future capital credits, please contact PRECorp for a donation form.

Please direct any questions or concerns about capital credits to PRECorp Member Service Representatives at 1-800-442-3630.