The Power of Connections

Sometimes, he provides moral support and a shoulder to cry on. “You might be speaking with a recent widow whose husband handled all the bills for 50 years and she’s never had to deal with them before. I help answer her questions and give her peace of mind,” he says. Capital Credits Put Cash Back into Pockets Capital credits serve as a tangible reminder of the benefits of co-op membership. This unique benefit comes in the form of an annual refund check if funds remain after all expenses for providing electric services have been met at the end of each fiscal year. Credits are allocated to members based on the volume and value of kilowatt-hours (kwhs) they purchased that year. “What makes us different from an investor-owned utility is that our members own the business,” says President & CEO Doug Tracy. “Because members buy electricity from Cuivre River Electric Cooperative, they then have a share in the capital that remains at the end of the year.” Capital credits also become the cooperative’s equity, making it possible for the cooperative to secure loans and maintain facilities and services.

The tradition of refunding capital credits to members began in 1976 when refunds were authorized for the first time. Cuivre River Electric has since established one

The CREC Capital Credit Team, Kristen Turgeon and Roman Schuette, with some of the capital credit checks to be sent to members.

“What makes us different from an investor-owned utility is that our members own the business.” —Doug Tracy

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