A: Each person or entity receiving electric service from Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a member of Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. . This cooperative is a not-for-profit organization formed to provide services at cost to its members. Members of Mississippi County pay competitive rates for electric service which generate a profit for the cooperative. These profits are retained and invested in plant and equipment necessary to provide service to members. When prudent financial considerations allow, previously retained profits are refunded to members by way of a capital credit retirement check. Rights and obligations of members arise from a contractual relationship detailed in Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. Bylaws provided each member when application for electric service is made.

Q: How is Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. different from investor owned utilities?

A: As mentioned above, Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a not-for-profit cooperative organization which means that all profits of Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. accrue to the benefit of the members we serve, not stockholders. Additionally, control of Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. is local; the members directly elect the Board of Directors, who themselves must be members of Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. .

Q: I sometimes receive a check from Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. entitled "Capital Credit Refund". What does this check represent, how is the amount determined and may I expect to receive additional checks in the future.

A: As discussed above, the check represents a return of previously retained profits invested by Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. in plant and equipment. The total amount which may be refunded each year is limited by lenders and plant and equipment need of Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. Each member receives a share of the refund based on their usage for the year in which the profits were generated.

Q: What causes my lights to blink?

A: Most temporary power interruptions are caused by equipment on the power lines detecting faults in the electric current and correcting the condition resulting in a momentary interruption. These fault currents are often caused by trees or animals such as squirrels contacting lines. Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. has an ongoing right-of-way program, trimming trees and brush to reduce the probability of momentary outages caused by tree contact with lines. If you are experiencing momentary interruptions with regularity, please contact your local office so that the cause of the interruptions can be investigated.

For additional information regarding any of the information contained in the articles above, you may contact Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. at info@mceci.com.