As a member of Palmetto Electric Cooperative, you are also one of our owners. You elect the Board of Directors and you have a voice in the way your co-op is managed.

Cooperatives exist to provide members with electric service on a non-profit basis. Investor-owned utilities, on the other hand, create a rate structure that will maximize their profits so they can pay dividends to their stockholders.

Cooperatives also collect more money than it costs to provide electricity, but in a co-op these “margins” do not belong to the corporation. Capital Credits belong to individual members who pay their monthly electric bills.

These excess earnings are accumulated in order to provide financial stability for your cooperative. This financial stability helps keep rates at a competitive level by reducing the amount of funds that have to be borrowed by your cooperative.

Each time you pay your electric bill you are making an investment in your cooperative. This excess capital is the only form of equity a member-owned utility has, and as it accumulates, it is assigned to each member’s capital credits account.

Whenever Palmetto Electric Cooperative’s finances permit, we return Capital Credits to our members. The decision is made by our Board of Directors after a thorough examination of the cooperative's financial position.

Prior to our Annual Meeting, members receive a statement with their total billings for electrical service for the previous year, which is referred to as patronage. This statement indicates the amount of Capital Credits accrued under each account. The amount of Capital Credits is determined by the excess revenues over expenses for the cooperative.

If you move out of the Palmetto Electric service area, you should leave your forwarding address with us so we can send your capital credits refund to you.

At this time, the only way an account can be “retired” or refunded in full is upon the death of the member.

To retire an estate one must:

• Transfer the account out of the deceased member’s name

• List the name of the person who continues the account

• Provide a copy of the Death Certificate

• Provide a certified copy of Letter of Administration or document naming Personal Representative (a Power of Attorney is not acceptable)

• Complete a “Request for Capital Credits Payment” form

You do not normally have to report your capital credits payment on your income tax. However, if you have questions concerning tax liability, contact the IRS or your tax preparer.