Co-op Membership Pays

Did you know you actually own Tri-County Electric Cooperative? As a member-owner, you are entitled to margins, also known as the Co-op’s profits. These are called capital credits and are returned to you in the form of a check or a billing credit. That’s because the Co-op uses that money to improve electrical infrastructure. When capital credits are returned to members, you are seeing the return on your investment. This is one of the benefits of being served by a non-profit utility.

For more information, contact Carol Timmons:
850-973-8033 or Email

Things a member should know:

  • Your capital credits are reserved for you even if you discontinue TCEC services. We will attempt to reach you at your last known address when refunds are issued.
  • To claim a check returned by mail, or request re-issue of a lost check, you must provide valid identification.
  • If you call to establish a new service in the future, tell us if you’ve previously been a member to keep our records current.

Unclaimed Capital Credit Checks

TCEC makes every effort to ensure our members receive the Capital Credits they are due. To accomplish this, it is very important for TCEC to have your current mailing address. Many of the check are returned by the U.S. Post Office marked as undeliverable. If you see your name below, please call Tri-County Electric at 800-999-2285, ext. 1203 to claim your check.

Almand, Elizabeth C
Anderson, Clenton Jr.
Arundel, Joseph G

Baillie, F E
Barber, Eric
Bell, Charles E
Benton, Edna Loren
Blair, Jimmy C
Brown, Fredrick A
Bryant, Arthur

Cook, W J
Corbin, W N
Craighead, Richard

Denman, Rhett

Ealy, Shayne
Evans, Irene M

French, Rex
Frow, Eveline

Gamble, Hubert

Hamilton, Roy A
Handex of Florida
Henrich, Louise
Hill, Larry G

Kuyrkendall, Lee
March, Tracy L
Melton, Larry L
Miller, Shuwanda
Moore, Burton
Moore, Jimmy

Nettles, Randy

Paul, Barbara B
Pickles, Douglas

Rabon, D L Sr
Roberson, Dorothy

Smith, Walt
Sowell, Christy
Spivey, Sandra E
Springston, Warren
Stalans, Tommy
Sweeley, Kenneth W

Tiner, Sheila
Tison, Robert

Walker, Lyman IV
Warren, Lakchia
Webb, Dennis
Welbes, John F
Wynn, Terry Lee

Yarbrough, Joy

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Capital Credits reflect each member’s ownership in the Cooperative. Tri-County Electric Cooperative does not earn profits in the sense the investor-owned utilities earn profits for their investors. Instead, any margins or revenues related to the sale of electric service remaining after all expenses have been paid are returned to the Cooperative’s members in proportion to their electrical usage.

Tri-County Electric Cooperative uses the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

If any member or former member fails to claim any check representing retirement of capital credits within two years after payment has been attempted and 60 days has expired from the date of publication in the Cooperative’s newsletter or in a local newspaper, such failure shall constitute an irrevocable assignment and gift of such credits to the Cooperative. All donated funds go to unclaimed capital then, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees, up to 25% of all such funds may be paid to the Cooperative’s Energizing Education Scholarship Fund or a qualified educational charity as selected by the Board of Trustees.

Distribution of Patronage Capital of Deceased Patrons

Effective June 1, 2013, the appropriate representative of a deceased Cooperative member’s estate can select one of two options for processing allocated capital credits:

  1. Continue to receive distribution of capital credits at full value during the regular retirement cycle, or
  2. Receive a lump sum discounted capital credit refund. The discount rate will reflect the present value of an amount that would otherwise be received in the future to reflect the time value of money.

TCEC bylaws/ policy provide for the option of an early retirement of the capital credits of a deceased member to his or her estate. Representatives of a deceased member’s estate can choose whether to receive the deceased member’s capital credits in the form of a present valued lump sum payout or to wait and receive the monies as they are retired as part of the normal, non-discounted retirement process of the Cooperative. Upon request by the appropriate documentation, the cooperative will pay the discounted, net present value of the capital credits to the estate of the deceased member. The amount of such distributions will be calculated using a discount rate that equals the Cooperative’s weighted average cost of capital and taking into account the date that the distribution would have occurred. Discounting provides a fair way to recognize special circumstances while continuing to treat members equally. If the discount option is exercised, the payment shall be final and binding in all regard.

Contact Member Services at 1-800-999-2285, or stop by one of our offices in Madison, Jefferson or Taylor counties.