Almost $3 Million Headed Back to Crow Wing Power Members This November
At the September Board of Directors meeting, the Board approved the 2026 Capital Credit Retirement, which will return almost $3 million to current and former members this November. It's one of the most rewarding announcements we get to share each year.
What Are Capital Credits?
Crow Wing Power is a not-for-profit cooperative owned by the members it serves. Each year, the Cooperative assigns capital credits to members based on how much electricity they purchased. These credits represent each member's ownership share in the Cooperative. Instead of going to outside investors, that ownership stays with the people and communities we serve. That's the cooperative difference.
Capital credits are an investment members make together in their electric system. They help pay for the poles, wires, substations, and equipment that keep power flowing to homes and businesses, which reduces the need to borrow money and helps keep rates stable. When the Cooperative is in a strong financial position, the Board returns, or "retires," capital credits to the members who earned them. Returning this investment to members is one of the Board's most important responsibilities.
Where This Year's Money Comes From
This year's retirement comes from two sources:
- About $1,111,000 in Crow Wing Power capital credits from 2010. If you received electric service from us in 2010, you have a share in this return. Capital credits are generally returned 15 to 20 years after they are assigned, which is why 2010 is the year being returned now.
- About $1,827,000 in capital credits from Great River Energy (GRE) for 1992 through 1998. GRE, our previous wholesale power supplier, is also a cooperative. Just as Crow Wing Power assigns capital credits to its members, GRE assigned capital credits to the cooperatives it served, including Crow Wing Power. When GRE pays those dollars to us, we pass them along to the members who had service during the years they were earned.
Together, these two sources add up to almost $3 million going back to members.
How You'll Receive Your Share
- Current members will see a credit on their November electric bill. There's nothing you need to do.
- Former members will receive a check by mail for amounts over $25. If your share is under $25, the Cooperative will hold it and add it to future returns until your total reaches $25, and then a check will be mailed.
If you've moved since you were a member, please make sure we have your current mailing address so your check reaches you.
Could You Have Unclaimed Capital Credits?
If you think you may have capital credits from past years that you never received, visit our website and search our Capital Credit database by name or address. The Cooperative holds unclaimed capital credits for up to seven years. After that, state law requires the money to either be turned over to the state or donated to charitable purposes. Following Board policy, Crow Wing Power keeps those dollars working close to home by supporting local community colleges and schools through scholarships and educational programs.
Your Cooperative at Work
Returning capital credits is one of the clearest ways we show what it means to be member-owned. Your investment in the Cooperative stays connected to you and your community, and this November, almost $3 million of it is coming home.