Capital Credits

When we have a good year and earn profits or margins, we can give cash back to our members.

When you move to Cobb EMC’s service area, you become a member of our electric cooperative. Our cooperative (or co-op) is owned by our customers/members, much like a credit union.

As a not-for-profit business, we exist to provide you reliable electricity – not to make a profit. When we have a good year and earn profits or margins, we can give cash back to our members. It’s one of the things that makes an electric co-op unique, and it’s one of the many benefits of being a co-op member.

Your board of directors (who are elected by our members) can vote to return excess revenue, based on the financial health of the company. The money you receive – known as capital credits – is your individual portion of the cooperative’s profits.

The Cobb EMC Board of Directors is pleased to announce that we are returning $13.9 million in capital credits to you and other members who received electric service from Cobb EMC in 2020 and/or 2021. The amount you receive is based on how much you paid for electricity during 2020 and/or 2021 for all your electric accounts. Look for a bill credit or check later this summer.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Contact us at memberservices@cobbemc.com.

The cash you get back from Cobb EMC (known as capital credits) is your individual portion of the cooperative’s profits beyond the costs of providing our members reliable electricity. As a not-for-profit business, we exist to provide you reliable electricity – not to make a profit. When we have a good year and earn profits or margins, we can give cash (or capital credits) back to our members.

This cash back – or retirement of patronage capital – is controlled by the bylaws of our co-op. Decisions about whether to give cash back (and when) are made annually, based on the company’s financial condition. 

  • Current members: Current members will receive their cash back in the form of a bill credit on their 2024 August or September bill. Look for the line-item titled Capital Credit Cash Back. If the amount is $500 or more, members will receive a check in the mail.*
  • Former members: Former members who have moved and are no longer on the Cobb EMC system will receive a notice and check in the mail in August or September for the remaining credit after any balances are paid.* A check will be mailed to the most recent address that was provided.
  • Deceased members: If the account is active and the cash back amount is less than $500 then a bill credit will be applied to the primary account residence after any balances are paid. If the amount is $500 or more, after any balances are paid, a check will be mailed to the primary account residence in the name shown on the account.* For inactive accounts, for the remaining credit after any balances are paid, a check will be mailed to the primary account residence in the name shown on the account to the most recent address provided.* Heirs or estates of current or former members may apply for capital credits to be issued to a name and or address that is different than what we have on file.

*Some restrictions may apply. If you have specific questions about your account, email our team at memberservices@cobbemc.com.

The amount you receive is based on how much you paid for electricity during 2020 and/or 2021. 

Members with more than one active account in 2020 and/or 2021 will receive one combined credit or check for all accounts in August or September 2024. If you have unpaid or past due balances owed on more than one account, then the credit may be applied to more than one account.

Members with a closed and active account will receive one combined credit or check for all accounts. Look for the line-item titled Capital Credit Cash Back on the 2024 August or September bill of the active account after any balances are paid. If the combined amount is $500 or more, members will receive one check in the mail for all accounts.

Yes, all Cobb EMC members, both residential and commercial, can receive capital credits. The amount is calculated the same, regardless of the type of member. If the business has been sold or dissolved, please complete the redesignation application.

Decisions about whether to give cash back (and how much and when) are made annually, based on the company’s financial condition. The board of directors also assesses whether the company needs to invest in system improvements to improve reliability. Reinvesting that money in our cooperative means we don’t have to borrow money, which helps us keep costs down and rates low.