Adams Electric’s board of directors voted in February to return $2.7 million in patronage capital credits, known by co-op members as “Ownership Rewards,” which brings the amount returned for all years to nearly $55 million.

“Ownerships Rewards are just one benefit that makes the cooperative business model different.” says Glenn Bange, board president. “This return represents our members’ ownership in the cooperative, and returning these margins helps us fulfill our mission of improving the quality of life in the communities we serve.”

Issued as a check mailed in March, Ownership Rewards are a benefit of being a current or former member-owner of an electric cooperative. For more than 50 years, members have received a return on their investment in Adams Electric based upon their share of the cooperative's net profits. Members who move off co-op lines will continue to receive Ownership Rewards until their investment is completely returned. Each investment is based on a member’s total use of kilowatt hours over the lifetime of their membership.

Past recipients have inquired about options to donate their Ownership Rewards. Recipients may choose to donate these rewards back to other cooperative members in need, through the co-op’s Project Helping Hand (PHH) program. Current and former members may forward their Ownership Rewards checks by signing the back, indicating for deposit to ACCF PHH, and returning the check to Adams Electric. All PHH donations will receive an acknowledgement letter at year’s end from the Adams County Community Foundation, which helps administer PHH program funds.