Some people who buy electricity from San Isabel Electric may not realize that they are members of San Isabel Electric, not utility customers. Being a member comes with some great perks, like capital credits. Capital credits are monies back, based on how much electricity is purchased by the member. Most utilities pocket left over money as profit when revenues are more than expenses. Electric co-ops set aside that money for members as capital credits, based on the amount of energy each member purchases. When it’s financially safe to do so, the co-op retires or returns the money to members. Members receive their share as a check right in their mailbox. In September 2021, mem
In September 2021, members who were electric co-op members in 1990, 1991, and 2020 received capital credits checks in the mail, reflecting their ownership of the cooperative during those years. More than 18,000 capital credit checks were mailed to San Isabel Electric members, returning more than $998,000 in capital credits to the co-op’s membership. Several of those checks that were mailed in 2021 were never cashed.
Following state law for unclaimed property, every April, the electric co-op publishes a list of unclaimed capital credits in the April 1 edition of the Pueblo Chieftain, the April issue of Colorado Country Life Magazine, and at SIEA.com/CapitalCredits in an attempt to return the cash to its rightful owners. If your name appears on one of these lists, please email capitalcredits@siea.com or call the co-op during business hours at 800-279-SIEA (7432) and ask for the Capital Credits Department. Proof of identity is required to claim unclaimed capital credits.
A full list of members with capital credits in their name will be published on the coop’s website, siea.com/capitalcredits, by June 1.
If a member-owner has not claimed their unclaimed capital credit after three years, the co-op donates the money to fund scholarship programs and area service efforts. These donations are approved by the Board of Directors, supporting hospitals, fire stations, county fairs, school programs, local chambers of commerce and more.
Members are encouraged to leave forwarding addresses with San Isabel Electric should they move to a new electric utility company. In the case of a member’s death, a representative of the estate should contact San Isabel Electric to determine the status of the member’s capital credit checks, both now and in the future.
