Capital credits are a unique benefit of being served by an electric cooperative, making CREC very different from most Missouri utilities. Similar to margins or profits, CREC capital credits are refunded to co-op members, whereas investor-owned electric utilities send their margins to stockholders, and municipally-owned utilities keep their profits.

The majority of current CREC members will receive a check or a credit to their account, to be mailed/posted during the last week of July 2023. The amount of each member’s refund is based on a formula determined by the quantity and cost of kilowatt-hours (kwhs) purchased annually.

Capital credits represent members’ ownership equity. If funds remain after all expenses for providing electric services have been met, capital credits are allocated after the close of a fiscal year. Member capital is used in place of commercial loans to make infrastructure improvements and lower borrowing expenses and operational costs.

Watch for more details on this year’s capital credits distribution in a coming issue of Rural Missouri/Current Times, and in the co-op’s e-newsletter, CREC Connections. For more information, click here, or call us at 800-392-3709.