This year, the board of directors approved the retirement of $6.1 million in capital credits to be paid back to members. Dakota Electric is returning the remaining 1995, 100% of the 1996-97 and 80% of the 1998 allocation. Members who purchased electricity in 1995-98 will be mailed a check this month. Watch for your check arriving soon!

Capital credits reflect each member’s ownership in Dakota Electric. As owners, all members of Dakota Electric share in the cooperative’s margins. Margins represent the difference between total revenue received and operating expenses for each year.

At the end of the year, using audited financial statements, Dakota Electric determines whether there are any margins. We allocate the margins to our members as capital credits based on their billed electricity during the year.

Even though the cooperative allocates capital credits to members each year, the money is not paid out right away. Capital credits are reinvested to reduce borrowing and interest payments keeping rates as low as possible. Dakota Electric’s board of directors approves the payment of capital credits annually. Currently, our capital credit program is on a 23-year rotation — with a goal to achieve a 15-year rotation by 2025 ­— retiring the oldest credits first.

To learn more about capital credits, email [email protected], call 651-463-6212 or visit www.dakotaelectric.com/about-us/capital-credits.