Capital Credits
Nobles Cooperative Electric Returns Nearly $840,000 in Capital Credits to Members in January 2026
At Nobles Cooperative Electric, being a member means more than simply receiving electric service — it means being a member-owner of your cooperative. In 2026, we’ll proudly celebrate 90 years of serving southwest Minnesota, and that ownership still comes with real benefits.
In January 2026, Nobles Cooperative Electric will return $839,942.66 in capital credits back to our local member-owners.
What Are Capital Credits?
Because Nobles Cooperative Electric is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, we operate at cost. When revenues exceed expenses, those margins aren’t kept as profit — they’re returned to you, our members, in the form of capital credits.
Simply put, capital credits are your share of the cooperative’s margins — a tangible benefit of being a member-owner. The more electricity you use, the more capital credits you earn.
Capital Credits = A Little Extra Cash in Your Pocket This January
For most Nobles Cooperative Electric members, capital credits will appear as a bill credit on your January statement. That means your electric bill may be lower than usual for the month of January, leaving more money in your checking account for groceries, fuel, or whatever else winter brings.
How it works:
- Patronage capital is reinvested into maintaining and improving our electric system, supporting long-term reliability while keeping rates affordable for our members.
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For 2026, Nobles Cooperative Electric is: Retiring 100% of remaining 2007 balances, a partial balance from 2008, and 30% of the 2024 allocation.
What to expect:
- Your capital credit distribution is based on how much electricity you purchased during the years noted earlier.
- Active members with capital credit amounts of $600 or more will receive a check in the mail around mid-January.
- If your capital credit amount is under $600, you will receive a bill credit on your January bill.
- Former members will receive a check for amounts of $25 or more; lesser amounts are left to accrue for future payments.
A Cooperative Benefit You Can See
Capital credits are just one of the many ways your cooperative puts members first. Thank you for being part of Nobles Cooperative Electric — and for helping keep our cooperative strong, local, and member-owned.
We are proud to return this money to you and to our communities.
