They're still sending me money...

[Capt Steve]

About 19 years ago we moved to our new house about 25 miles north of Tucson. I set up the usual utilities sewer, water, satellite, internet etc. and when it came to electric I connected with what was for me a new entity. Our power was provided by Trico Electric which is a non profit co - op.

The service was always excellent with rates far lower than I had ever encountered {don't get me started on SDGE from our homes in San Diego} Not only was the service great they had a unique concept... As they were a true "NonProfit" provider every year they would take all of their surplus, divide it by their client base and issue refund checks. Typically around 30 -40 dollars with a portion going into a trust fund in our name. This went on every year for the 14+ we lived in Tucson. Five years ago we sold our home and moved to Payson AZ.

You guessed it... the others day I got my 5th refund check in the mail since moving to Payson. It was only for $30.54 but my trust fund balance is up to $1,347. I can and probably will at some point donate the trust funds to a charity as I cannot access them for personal benefit but getting a check every year for the last 19 makes me smile.

So if Trico can provide first class service year after year and return their profits why do we only get rate increases from every other provider? {Duh!... foolish question}. There must be other nonprofit providers out there so check you local market as you might, maybe just be eligible {think location, location location}.

Just sayin

 

[TX-Dennis]

There used to be an electric coop here for the rural areas south of the city. Supposedly non profit, but their rates were close to double what those of us outside the coop paid for electricity. Massive complaints ensued, and the coop was finally disbanded and sold to TXU.

Texas electricity is deregulated in a weird sort of way, but the coops (and certain cities who operate their own electric utility) were protected from competition unlike other retail providers of electricity.

 

[mtgianni]

Co-op or regulated utility is one of the first things you check around here for a rental or home purchase.

 

[Onomea]

... the others day I got my 5th refund check in the mail since moving to Payson. It was only for $30.54 but my trust fund balance is up to $1,347. I can and probably will at some point donate the trust funds to a charity as I cannot access them for personal benefit but getting a check every year for the last 19 makes me smile...

That is amazing! I have never heard of that concept.

 

[otis24]

About a year ago, we took the phone out of our business name and put it back to a personal account. This entailed closing the one account and opening a new account with the same information. When we did this, we received all of our capital credits ($4200).

 

[Liftrat]

Our local investor owned electric co-op does about the same thing. I get a check once a year for retired capital credits. Not much, but its nice. Not sure if that'll continue if we move, but I'll take it.

 

[H Richard]

We also have electric by a Rural Electric Co-Op, and we annually get a letter of our earned Capital Credits. We don't receive any actual money for 20 years, then we start getting payment every year. Even after you move away you still get payment based on the credits you earned.