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Capital Credits

A Member Advantage

Capital Credits are a valuable and unique benefit of being a member of Cuivre River Electric Cooperative (CREC). As a not-for-profit organization, CREC operates at cost. Any revenue collected beyond the expenses required to run the cooperative represents the 'margins.' These margins aren't profit in the traditional sense; instead, they belong to you, our members, who collectively own the cooperative.

Each year, these margins are allocated to members as capital credits based on their electricity purchases during that period. This allocation reflects your ownership stake. Over time, as CREC's financial condition allows, the Board of Directors approves the 'retirement' or payout of these allocated credits back to the members. Throughout our history, CREC has proudly returned millions of dollars in capital credits to those who have helped build and sustain the cooperative.

 

Unclaimed Capital Credits

However, because members sometimes move away without providing a forwarding address, ensuring every past member receives their earned capital credit payments can be challenging. Consequently, some checks may remain uncashed or unclaimed for years.

We encourage you to use the search tool provided to see if there are any unclaimed capital credits associated with your name, or perhaps the name of a family member or friend who was once served by CREC. Finding unclaimed credits can provide a welcome surprise, representing your share of the cooperative's success from years past.

 

Things to know about Capital Credits

  1. Your capital credits are reserved for you even if you discontinue CREC service. CREC will attempt to reach you when refunds are made if a current address is on file. 
  2. Checks will expire after six months. Checks returned by mail are held while they remain valid. After six months they are applied as bill credits to their respective active accounts. By request, checks may also be donated to Operation Round Up for families in need. 
  3. To claim a check returned by mail, you must provide valid identification.
  4. In accordance with CREC bylaws, when refunds remain unclaimed after two years, CREC attempts to alert those former members who have not been located that they may have a refund. The names of those former members who have an unclaimed refund are listed on the cooperative's website annually.
  5. If you call to establish a new service, tell us if you've previously been a CREC member to help us keep past and current records up to date.