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Member Credits

Your slice of the pie

 

PVREA is a not-for-profit electric co-op and we belong to the communities we serve. Which means we're not in the business of making profits, we're in the business of serving you, our member. We return margins in the form of member credits - paid directly to our members by a check in the mail or as a bill credit.

 

Member Credits (4).png

2022 Member Credits

In 2022, we will pay $2 million in Member Credits to our members who received service from us during the years 1994, 2005, and 2021, or any combination of those years. In September, members who are eligible will see their Member Credit on their September bill statement or in the form of a check. Please contact us to update your mailing address by calling 800.432.1012.

Allocation vs. Retirement

Allocation. Every spring, the Board of Directors looks at the prior year and allots any funds remaining after all expenses are paid into a budget item called patronage capital. This designated pool of money is then “allocated” to members, based on the prior year’s electric consumption. In this case, the more power you use, the larger your allocation. The allocation is not a check, but a bookkeeping of the amount of money you have invested in the Co-op’s electric system based on your electric consumption. This allocation amount is notified to members on bills every year. 

Retirement. Every year the Board takes a hard look at the operation, and decides if a member credit payout or "retirement" is feasible. If they decide to retire member credits, the money is paid out or “retired” from each member’s account, based on their past allocations. The credits members receive are tangible evidence of each member’s investment into the co-op. 

For any tax questions regarding your member credits, please refer to your tax advisor.

Unclaimed Member Credits List

Every year, PVREA is unable to return member credits to some of our members because of a bad address on file or the member simply did not cash the check. If you were a member of PVREA and believe you're missing credits, check the list. If your name is on the list, give us a call so we can determine if you have member credit money that needs to come to you.

Check the List

Member Credits FAQs

What are Member Credits?

At the end of each year, after all of the cooperative’s bills have been paid and all expenses considered, the amount of money that is left over is called a margin. Margins provide equity for the cooperative and are allocated to the members in proportion to their purchases of electricity during the year. Member credits, otherwise known as capital credits, are your share of the margin. Member credits are allocated annually to each member and are retired in accord with the cooperative’s bylaws.

If you have questions regarding your member credits, please contact our Member Services Department at 1-800-432-1012 or to find out more about member credits or PVREA, click here to contact us.

To search our most recent list of unclaimed member credits, click here.

 

What happens to my credits if I move?

You will still receive your member credit checks from previous years of membership with PVREA. When you close your account with us, we ask for your forwarding address so we can mail your member credit retirement checks to your new address.

Why can’t you simply use this money to reduce your rates?

Our co-op uses these funds as working capital to maintain the existing distribution system and to build new infrastructure without having to borrow any money to do so. This is why we allocate funds, and in later years pay out the member credit funds back to you. It's part of your economic participation in the co-op.

I am due a member credits check, but didn’t receive it. How do I get my check?

Call the co-op at 1-800-432-1012 and we will be able to help you out.

What does it mean to "allocate" member credits?

Every spring, after the previous year's accounting is finalized, any funds remaining after all expenses are paid (margins) are allocated to members that purchased power in the previous year. These funds are called patronage capital and are later paid out as member credits. Members are typically notified of their allocation on their bills in the spring.

Why don't we pay it out when allocated?

PVREA uses these funds as working capital to maintain the existing distribution system and to build new infrastructure without having to borrow any money to do so.

What does it mean to "retire" member credits?

Every year the co-op takes a hard look at our financial situation and determines how much the cooperative can retire, or pay out, in member credits. The credits members receive either by check or a bill credit, typically in September, are tangible evidence of each member's investment into the cooperative.

I didn’t think electric cooperatives were supposed to make a “profit”.

We are required by our lending institutions to meet certain financial requirements to show that the cooperative is financially stable. However, all margins are allocated back to our membership, and later paid out as member credits.

Is my member credit allocation/retirement taxable?

We suggest that you seek the advice of a tax professional for any specific questions regarding taxation.

How did you determine the amount of my member credits retirement?

Every spring, after the previous year's accounting is finalized, any funds remaining after all expenses are paid (margins) are allocated to members that purchased power in the previous year. These funds are called patronage capital, and are based on prior year's electric use - the more electricity you use, the larger your allocation. Your allocations build up over the years, and are later paid out as member credits. 

I thought I was due a credit. Why didn't I get any money?

The amount of credits you receive is primarily determined by the length of service with PVREA, as well as the amount of energy you purchased in prior years in your membership with the co-op.If your allocations haven't built up to at least $10 yet, we’ll keep allocating your member credits and will pay it back to you when you’ve
reached over $10.

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Poudre Valley REA
7649 REA Parkway
Fort Collins, CO 80528
 

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"A Touchstone Energy Cooperative"

©2023 Poudre Valley REA, Inc

  • My Account
    • Manage My Account
      • Start or Stop Service
      • Payment and Billing
      • Payment Assistance
      • Payment Arrangements
      • Pay As You Go
      • Street Light Maintenance
      • Tree Trimming Request
      • PVREA App
    • Member Info
      • Member Perks & Info
      • FAQs
      • Member Credits
      • Commonly Requested Forms
      • Rates
      • Fees & Charges
      • Rules & Regulations
      • Co-op Connections Program
  • Manage Energy
    • Renewable Energy
      • Cooperative Solar
      • Private Solar
      • DG Level II and III
      • Green Power Program
      • Request for Proposals
    • Resources
      • Rebates
      • Tips & Tools
      • Energy Assessments
      • Select-HVAC
      • Electric Vehicles
      • Home Energy Advisor
      • Power Peak Rewards
      • Power Peak
      • Building Benchmarking
  • Outages & Safety
    • Outages
      • Outage Center
      • Report Outage
      • Storm Safety Tips
      • Sign Up for Outage Alerts
    • Safety
      • Electrical Safety
      • Call Before You Dig
      • Trees & Power Lines
      • Electrical Safety Demos
  • My Community
    • For Our Community
      • Help Other Members
      • Reserve Community Room
      • Grassroots
      • Programs & Presentations
      • Sponsorships & Events
    • For Our Kids
      • Kids Corner
      • Youth Leadership Camp
      • Washington D.C. Youth Tour
      • Scholarships
      • Empower Grant Program
  • The Co-op
    • About Us
      • About PVREA
      • Contact Us
      • The Cooperative Difference
      • Where the Power Comes From
      • Service Territory
      • Board of Directors
      • Reports & Bylaws
    • News & Events
      • Board Meeting Schedule & Minutes
      • News
      • Construction Updates
      • Annual Meeting
      • 80 by 30 Goal
      • Careers
      • Events