Capital Credits

Capital Credits are a valuable and unique benefit of being a member-owner of a co-op. As a not-for-profit organization, your co-op operates at cost. Any revenue collected beyond the expenses required to run the cooperative represents the 'margins.' These margins aren't profit in the traditional sense; instead, they belong to you, our members, who collectively own the cooperative.

Each year, these margins are allocated to members as capital credits based on their electricity purchases during that period. This allocation reflects your ownership stake. Over time, as your co-op's financial condition allows, the Board of Directors approves the 'retirement' or payout of these allocated credits back to the members. Throughout our history, we have proudly returned millions of dollars in capital credits to those who have helped build and sustain the cooperative.

However, because members sometimes move away without providing a forwarding address, ensuring every past member receives their earned capital credit payments can be challenging. Consequently, some checks may remain uncashed or unclaimed for years.

We encourage you to use the search tool provided to see if there are any unclaimed capital credits associated with your name, or perhaps the name of a family member or friend who was once served by your co-op. Finding unclaimed credits can provide a welcome surprise, representing your share of the cooperative's success from years past.

Notice: 2020 Abandoned Capital Credits

Flint Energies is seeking to find these members who have abandoned capital credits on file with our not-for-profit cooperative. We would like to find a current address and refund these capital credits if possible. Members with capital credits that have not been claimed from the 2020 retirement have until September 15, 2026 to claim these funds. After that time, these capital credits will be donated as permitted in Georgia Law (O.C.G.A. 44-12-236). If your name is on the list, or if you have accurate addresses for anyone on the list, please call Flint Energies during regular business hours at (800) 342-3616, ext. 5203.

2020 Abandoned Capital Credits (4.94 MB)

Notice: 2020 Unclaimed Capital (Deposits)

Flint Energies is seeking to find Members who have unclaimed capital (deposits) on file with our not-for-profit cooperative. We would like to find a current address and refund these unclaimed funds if possible. Members with capital that has not yet been claimed have until September 1, 2026. After that time, unclaimed capital will be considered abandoned and will be donated as permitted by law.

If your name is on the list, or if you have accurate addresses for anyone on the list, please contact Flint Energies' Consumer Accounting department during regular business hours at 1.800.342.3616 ext. 5205.

July 2020-June 2021 Unclaimed Capital (127.57 KB)

Frequently Asked Questions

Capital Credits are the retained margins left over at the end of the year at a not for profit electric cooperative. Capital credits are the most significant source of equity for most cooperatives. Capital credits are somewhat similar to the dividends that investor-owned utilities pay to their shareholders. The difference is that the Cooperative’s “shareholders” are also the people that it serves and the “dividends” (capital credits) are distributed to those member/consumers. Capital credits reflect each member’s ownership in the cooperative. It is also called patronage capital or equity capital.

Member-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities like Flint set their rates to bring in enough money to pay operating costs, make payments on any loans and provide an emergency reserve. At the end of each calendar year, we subtract operating expenses from the total amount of money collected during the year and this balance is the called “margin.”

It is one of the seven Cooperative Principles: Member Economic Participation. That principle states: Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

If you move or no longer have electric service with Flint, it is important that members keep their address current, so that future disbursements can be properly mailed. Capital credits are reserved for members even if they move out of the Flint service area. Flint will make a diligent effort to send a check by mail. See Unclaimed Capital Credits.

If it will not impair the financial stability of the cooperative, it is the policy of Flint to retire deceased members’ capital credits early and on a discounted basis. Flint should be notified as soon as possible following the member’s death as there may be capital credits to retire which could be claimed by the estate. Estate retirement is the return of an individual member’s capital credits after the death of the member. The deceased member’s capital credits amount will be reduced by any outstanding balance on any of the deceased member’s account(s).

An application to claim the estate capital credits retirement must be initiated by the deceased member’s heir(s) or estate administrator. Intestate estates will have capital credits paid pursuant to Georgia Law, O.C.G.A. 46-3-341. Please contact Flint during regular business hours at (800) 342-3616 to discuss estate capital credits retirement options. Documentation will be required to claim ownership.

Learn More

Notice: 2020 Abandoned Capital Credits

Notice: 2020 Unclaimed Capital (Deposits)

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Capital Credits?

How are capital credits paid?

How are year-end margins allocated?

Why does a cooperative refund some capital credits?

Does Georgia Power or Fort Valley Utilities refund capital credits?

How often do Members receive capital credits?

How will the refund work this year?

What if I have moved?

What is a Member?

What does it mean to allocate capital credits?

What does it mean to retire capital credits?

What is a rotation period?

How have my capital credits been used by Flint?

What if a Member passes away? What happens with their capital credits?