Capital Credits

How Capital Credits WorkWhat are capital credits?

Cooperatives are not-for-profit companies. As a member of Continental Divide, you aren't just a customer; you're a part-owner (member) of our co-op. This means when the co-op earns excess revenue or margins, you are allocated a portion of that equity.

These "capital credits" are to cooperative members what dividends are to stockholders of for-profit, investor-owned utilities. Since a co-op does not earn profits, any margins or revenues remaining after all expenses have been paid are returned to the members in proportion to their electricity usage.

Co-op returns $1.72 million in capital credits

Continental Divide's governing board has approved the retirement of $1,727,225 in capital credits. As a result, nearly 26,000 checks will be mailed the week of Nov. 18, 2024, to current and former co-op members who purchased electricity in 1991 and/or 2022.

How to inquire about unclaimed capital credits

If you believe you are owed capital credits but do not receive a check, it may be because:

  • Only member disbursements in excess of $5.00 were mailed. Disbursements below the $5.00 threshold will be rolled into future year disbursements.
  • The check was returned to Continental Divide because the co-op does not have accurate or current mailing information.

To inquire about unclaimed capital credits, please complete our Unclaimed Capital Credits Inquiry form online by clicking here. The form can also be downloaded here.

To voluntarily donate your capital credits to the Continental Divide Education Foundation, please complete our Assignment of Capital Credits Agreement online by clicking here. The form can also be downloaded here.

To read our announcement on this year's capital credit disbursement, click here.