In September 2024, members were mailed information about KEC’s Early Discounted Capital Credit program, which allows qualified members the choice to receive the current value of their 2023 capital credits this year or receive a normal retirement in the future (generally in 25-30 years). Members who elected to participate in the program will receive a credit on their billing statement mailed in November 2024. Currently, about 50% of eligible members participate in the program.
An election to participate or not in this program is made by the KEC member account holder on a voluntary basis. Members may change their selection at any time; however, the deadline to participate this year was October 24, 2024. To change your selection, contact us at 208.765.1200 or capitalcredits@kec.com.
An election to participate or not participate in the Kootenai Electric Cooperative (KEC) Early Discounted Capital Credit program is made by the KEC member account holder on a voluntary basis. Once a credit has been issued to you it cannot be reversed, unless it was produced by KEC in error. Members may change their selection at any time by contacting KEC at capitalcredits@kec.com or (208) 765-1200. The option selected by a member will remain their choice for future years, or until KEC receives instructions from the member to change their option.
In order to calculate the cash value of your 2023 capital credits today (as opposed to waiting 28 years or more until they might be paid at their full value) we must make some financial assumptions. First, we need a discount rate. The discount rate we rely on equals our estimated cost of capital. The rate is currently 5.25% per year. This rate is established annually and may change in future years.
The second assumption we require is the number of years until the capital credits would otherwise be retired as a part of a traditional first-in-first-out capital credit retirement program. Our current retirement cycle is 28 years, but that can increase or decrease over time based on the financial needs of the cooperative and the related actions of KEC’s Board of Directors. Our current capital credit cycle is 28 years, which is used to determine the timeframe for the amount available under the Early Discounted Capital Credit program.
It is important to recognize that the difference between the capital you contributed during the year and the discounted amount you could receive early is not forfeited by you. The amount of the difference, also known as the discount, will be maintained in an equity account in your name. It is non-redeemable. However, in the unlikely event the Cooperative were dissolved as a corporate entity, the amount of your permanent investment would be the basis by which your portion of any net proceeds available following dissolution would be determined. This is unlikely to occur, and such an investment in KEC should be viewed as both illiquid and permanent in nature.