Unclaimed Capital Credits as of July 28th 2025
Ownership has its privileges. Tri-County Electric Cooperative returns cash to its members through capital credits. You can access the latest full Unclaimed Capital Credits PDF list by clicking the link above
Unclaimed Capital Credits Application
“Unclaimed Capital Credits” at are money owed to current or former co-op members that has not yet been paid because the cooperative could not locate the member or the check was never claimed.
Deceased Capital Credits Application
“Deceased Capital Credits” are capital credit funds owed by an electric cooperative to a member who has died
Notice of Unclaimed Capital Credits
Tri-County Electric Cooperative has unclaimed capital credits for the following persons. This list identifies the names and last known address of former members who have unclaimed capital credits.
If your name appears on the list, please contact the office. If you recognize a name and know where that person is, please have him or her contact our office.
In order to claim the capital credits, the individual will need to provide identification and proof they are the member who owned the account with the unclaimed capital credit. In order to claim the capital credits for a deceased person, the cooperative will need a copy of his or her Death Certificate and a copy of the Certificate of Appointment from the Judge of Probate or you may obtain a Capital Credit Affidavit at one of our offices.
To claim funds, please complete the Unclaimed or Deceased Credits form above. You may also contact us by email at capitalcredits@tce.coop or by calling the cooperative’s office at 877-874-1215 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday. Please reference your inquiry as regarding unclaimed capital credits.
Helpful Capital Credit Definitions
- Member — As a recipient of electric service from TCE, you are more than a customer; you are a member- owner.
- Operating Costs — The cost to build, maintain, and repair the electric system, including poles, wires, and substations.
- Margins — The remaining revenue after operating expenses are paid.
- Allocation — The assignment of margins to a member’s capital credit account.
- Patronage — The amount a member paid for electricity during the year.
- Retirement — A payout from a member’s capital credit account.
Capital Credits Search
Capital Credits are the only form of equity a consumer-owned utility has. Each year, all revenue over and above expenses is assigned by the cooperative to each member’s Capital Credits account. The amount of your Capital Credits is determined by your yearly payments for electricity.
The revenue that eventually becomes Capital Credits is accumulated and used for system maintenance. This helps to keep rates competitive by reducing the amount of funds that have to be borrowed by your cooperative.
The Capital Credits that are assigned to each member’s account are returned periodically to the members. This means you are a member-owner of a not-for-profit business. Ownership has its privileges.
Per our Bylaws:
General Capital Credit Retirements- Subject to financial conditions and business judgement, the Cooperative will endeavor to maintain a rotation cycle for retiring Capital Credits and repaying patronage capital of not more than thirty-three (33) years.
Whenever TCEC’s finances permit, we return Capital Credits to our members. The decision is made by our Board of Trustees after a thorough examination of the co-op’s financial position. The co-op has returned Capital Credits to our members annually since 1976.
Each year your prior year allocation is printed on your April bill. The amount of Capital Credits on this statement is determined by the total revenue over expenses for the cooperative and your total billings for the year.
These Capital Credit refunds illustrate and emphasize one of the major differences between a member-owned cooperative and an investor-owned power company or municipality.
If you move, be sure to leave your forwarding address with us so we can send your Capital Credits check to you. You do not normally have to report your Capital Credits payment on your income tax. However, if you have any questions concerning tax liability, consult your tax preparer.
As a member of TCEC, you are one of its member-owners. You elect the co-op’s Board of Trustees, and this gives you an equal voice in the way your co-op is managed.
Capital Credits are a privilege of membership. If You Have Any Questions Concerning Capital Credits, please contact us.
Your capital credits are based on your annual patronage, which is the amount you paid for electricity during a specific year. The more electricity you purchase, the larger your allocation may be.
No. Capital credits are first used by the cooperative to help fund operations, maintain infrastructure, and reduce borrowing costs. The Board of Directors reviews the cooperative’s financial condition annually to determine whether capital credits can be retired and returned to members.
A retirement is the payment of capital credits to members. When approved by the Board of Directors, members receive a portion of previously allocated capital credits.
- Active members with allocations under $25 will receive a bill credit.
- Active members with allocations of $25 or more will receive a check.
- Inactive members will receive a check regardless of the amount.
An active member currently receives electric service from TCE.
An inactive member no longer receives electric service from TCE but may still have capital credits allocated in their name from previous years of service.
Capital credit retirements vary because they are based on each member’s patronage, or the amount paid for electricity during the applicable year(s).