CEO’s Message – March 2026
Bring on Spring & Cash Back!
We have a lot to look forward to as spring approaches. Warmer weather certainly tops my list. It’s been an especially rough winter, and I hope you can agree that we could all use some sunshine.
Besides warmer weather and the beginning of spring, we will be getting back to daylight saving time on March 8. Those extra hours of daylight in the evening are wonderful when you’re trying to get things done outside.
Julie likes to remind me of all the good things that are on the calendar. It may be as simple as a visit from our kids, taking a Sunday hike in the park, or a family vacation. According to psychologists, positive anticipation of the future can significantly improve your mood.
So, besides the next edition of the Ohio Cooperative Living magazine, what can you look forward to when it comes to your cooperative?
As a member-owner, the money you pay throughout the year for your electric and natural gas service, above our operating cost, is recorded and allocated back to your capital credit account. This is what we call “allocation of capital credits.” This money is used over time by the co-op, along with long-term loans, to continue upgrading and building electric and natural gas facilities that serve our current and future members. This is our owners’ “skin in the game,” so to speak.
Next, depending on the financial condition of the co-op, our board may approve a retirement of a portion of those previously allocated funds. We call this payout a “retirement of capital credits,” or more appropriately, “Cash Back,” when we return that money to our members.
In April of 2025, Union Rural Electric Cooperative’s (URE) board authorized the return of $2,765,000 to our members. These funds were from margins earned from 2003 to 2006, as well as a portion of 2024. Return of these funds was in the form of bill credits to our members.
Your upcoming April bill will show the amount that was allocated to you from 2025 margins. The following month, with board approval, you will also receive cash back from prior years’ margins in the form of a bill credit.
Remember, URE is your electric cooperative. 1 major benefit of ownership is that your cooperative returns money to you. Now that really is something worth looking forward to!