Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s Board of Directors unanimously voted during its April meeting to return $4.7 million in capital credits to member-owners of the cooperative. Beginning in May, Bluebonnet’s members will receive a credit on their electric bill for their share of $4.7 million in capital credits, a $500,000 increase over last year.

“Approving the amount to return in capital credits is one of the best things we get to do as Directors on behalf of our members,” said Ben Flencher, board president. “The credit our members will see on their bills in May is one of the many benefits of being a member-owner of Bluebonnet. During the last few years due to growth and our financial success we have been able to return record amounts to our members.”

Capital credits are excess revenue above what it takes to run the co-op. Every April, Bluebonnet’s Board of Directors approves the capital credits payment during its April meeting. When determining how much to return to members, the Directors consider the impact that the amount returned to members will have on electric rates and the co-op’s financial strength.

The amount each member gets back depends on how much electricity they used in previous years through 2020 and how long they have been a Bluebonnet member. Current members will see a credit on their May electric bill for their share of this year’s capital credits retirement. Former members who are still owed a capital credit will receive a check in May or June.

Since 2005, Bluebonnet has returned $66.7 million to its members in capital credits.

“The ability to return millions of dollars to our members is possible because of prudent financial decisions and responsible daily operations,” said Matt Bentke, Bluebonnet’s general manager. “Bluebonnet’s Board of Directors and all employees have great respect for our fiduciary duty to our members. That in turn has led to the financial capacity to provide record capital credits to our members in 2021, and to reinvest more than ever in the Bluebonnet electric system, employees and the communities we serve.”