Cash back! As a member, you get the credits. 

What are capital credits? We belong to those we serve and as such we share profits back with the people we serve. We call these profits capital credits. Capital credits are your share of the cooperative's margins. Per MiEnergy's bylaws, the board of directors determines the amount of retirement each year based on the financial condition of the cooperative.

View the latest unclaimed capital credits list. If your name is on this list, please contact jmadsen@MiEnergy.coop or call 800-432-2285.

It is important to know two things about capital credits in order to understand how they work:

Allocations. Each year, members are "allocated"; their portion of the previous year's profit based on the amount of electricity they purchase from MiEnergy in relation to the total amount of electricity purchased by all members during the year. This amount is put into a "holding account" for a number of years and used by MiEnergy to fund capital needs for items such as power line construction, transformers, inventory and other equipment. This is an underlying principle of the cooperative business model and is one more way we keep your electric rates as low as possible. This "allocation" becomes your equity in the cooperative and is maintained in a separate account assigned to you. 

Retirement. This is what members get in cash at a later date. MiEnergy uses the amount "allocated" to the member for a time, but then returns this amount to members in the form of "retirements," which are actual "cash back" dollars to the member.


How are the capital credits returned?

In an effort to save on costs, MiEnergy returns capital credits as a refund to members' electric accounts. Inactive members receive a check by mail in October for amounts over $15. If the refund is less that $15 the amount will remain on the account and be carried over to next year's retirement. If you move please call MiEnergy to ensure your mailing address is up-to-date so future capital credits reach you.


Unclaimed credits

Credits that remain unclaimed by a member for three years are used to fund scholarships for area high school students.

 

For more information, please contact:

Julie Madsen
Member Services Representative

  1. Track

    MiEnergy tracks how much electricity you purchase and the amount you pay for it throughout the year.

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  2. Year end

    Once year-end financials are complete, the co-op determines if there are excess revenues, called margins.

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  3. Allocation

    MiEnergy allocates the margins to members as capital credits based upon their use of electricity during the year.

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  4. Board decision

    The board of directors decides to retire, or pay, the capital credits.

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  5. Notification

    MiEnergy notifies members of how and when capital credit retirements are received.

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