Access your account,
view/pay your bill and
submit meter reads online.

eBill

Search



San Isabel Propane

Capital Credits

Because you receive your electricity from an electric cooperative, you own part of the company. As a member, your investment into the cooperative is returned to you in the form of capital credits. This is one of the significant differences between an investor-owned utility and a cooperative.

What are capital credits?
Capital credits represent each member's investment into the cooperative. Because cooperatives do not earn profits in the sense that other businesses do, any margins or revenues remaining after all expenses have been paid are returned to the members in the form of capital credits. Your share is determined by your electric usage.

When will I get a capital credit refund?
The profits of San Isabel Electric are allocated to our members every year. Allocation means the funds that you have invested into the cooperative are tracked, but not accessible in the form of cash. The actual distribution of funds, or retirement of capital credits, happens at the discretion of the board of directors.

At the end of each year, your board carefully assesses the financial condition of the cooperative, and determines what amount of capital credits to retire to our members. Capital credits may not be retired every year.

What do cooperatives do with capital credits when they are not retired?
Electric utilities are capital intensive businesses requiring large investments in equipment. Like all businesses, San Isabel must maintain a balance between debt and equity to ensure financial stability. Capital credits are a significant source of equity and help to fund the growth and maintenance of the system.

During periods of fast growth, like what has been occurring in San Isabel's service territory, a large amount of cash (or equity) is needed to build our system. In order to fund this growth, San Isabel has to borrow money from banks, re-invest member capital, or in some cases, do both. By re-investing your capital credits, San Isabel Electric is able to keep rates competitive by reducing the funds that must be borrowed from other sources.

What if I move, am I still eligible to receive my capital credits?
If you move out of our service territory, please keep us informed of your new address so we are sure to contact you regarding future capital credit refunds. To report your current address for capital credit purposes, please call our Member Service Department at 1-800-279-7432.

What happens to a member's capital credit account if the member dies?
Capital credits allocated to a member's account belong to the member's estate. For an estate to receive a refund, a relative or representative must provide San Isabel with a certified death certificate or other legal document. Please contact our Capital Credit Department at 719-647-6267 or by email at capitalcredits@siea.com for more information on claiming capital credits.

Why didn't I get a check this year as I have in the past?
The minimum check amount is now $10. If your refund was under that amount, a check will not be issued. However, the next time a Capital Credit refund is authorized, that amount will be added to the refund.

How long do I have to cash my check?
Checks are good for 90 days. If you did not cash your check during that time, please contact our office for a replacement check.

I owned a company which is no longer in business. My bank will not deposit my Capital Credit checks because they are not in my name. What should I do?
Please furnish SIEA with a legal document showing proof of ownership of the company so that we may change the name.

How do I remove the name of my former spouse after a divorce?
Future Capital Credit checks will continue to be issued in both of your names unless your spouse signs a notarized transfer form, available from SIEA. Another option is to split future checks between both of you. If you decide to do this, please write SIEA a letter requesting that the Capital Credits accumulated in both names be divided. State each party's name and current address.