This month, our not-for-profit electric cooperative will return $500,000 in capital credits to our member-
owners. The refund each member receives depends on the amount of electricity they purchased during the year being retired. This year’s refunds were earned in 1991, 1992, and part of 1993.

How and when: Getting your refund
• If you currently have an active account and received electricity during the years being retired, your refund will apply to your March billing statement as a credit.
• If the credit is less than $10, it will remain on file and be applied to the next capital credit refund.
• Reminder! If you ever move out of our service territory, it is very important that you provide EnerStar with a forwarding address to ensure you receive your capital credit refund.

Capital credits — Know about the Co-op Difference
EnerStar is locally owned and locally controlled by a board of directors elected by the membership. Unlike investor -owned utilities that generate profits for shareholders, we operate solely for the benefit of our members. After revenues are collected and all expenses are paid, we return our margins (our version of profits) to the member-owners. 

As a member-owner, you earn capital credits every time you pay your electric bill. The amount allocated to each member is based on their electricity usage for that year. We keep a record of your capital credits, which represent your equity — or ownership — in the cooperative. Eventually, these credits are returned to members through a process called a capital credit retirement. Electric cooperatives reinvest capital credits into their operational funds to build or maintain electrical infrastructure. This helps keep rates as low as possible and ensures high reliability. For this reason, capital credits are not refunded — or “retired” — immediately.

“A capital credits refund is one of the most unique benefits of being a co-op member,” said EnerStar CEO Angela Griffin. “Our board of directors — who are also co-op members — and our employees are dedicated to managing our financial and physical resources responsibly. We're committed to being good stewards of our members’ assets. Thanks to strong financial management, we are able to return capital credits.”

Throughout EnerStar’s history, the co-op has returned over $8.6 million in capital credits to our member-owners. We appreciate your support and are proud to share these financial benefits with our membership. To learn more about EnerStar’s patronage capital program, visit www.enerstar.com/capital-credits.