Being a part of an electrical cooperative means that the member must participate by using and paying for the electricity that is provided. Simply, if you have a Valley Electric bill, then you are a member. As a utility, Valley’s mission is to provide safe, reliable, and affordable energy to the members who pay their bills, contributing directly to the cooperative. But as a cooperative, Valley is motivated by improving the lives of the members it serves, rather than by profits, like other utilities. It is more than money; it is the opportunity to serve. Any profits that are made, are redistributed to the members in the form of capital credits. Capital credits are released when the Board determines the Co-op is financially able to do so, and then members either get a check or a credit on their bill.
