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 ANNUAL MEETINGS

As a member-owner of Big Country Electric Cooperative, you are an owner of a $53 million cooperative corporation. BCEC serves more than 12,000 meters. We have more than 5,300 miles of line serving farms, homes, industries and schools with dependable electric service.

Each person receiving service from Big Country Electric Cooperative is encouraged to actively participate in the business of the cooperative by attending the Annual Meeting. Traditionally, the meeting is held in April. A meal is served and entertainment is provided before the business meeting begins.

Nine members serve on the BCEC Board of Directors. They are selected from the membership at the Annual Meeting. Each board member is elected to serve for a three-year term. Elections are staggered with grouped Districts 1, 2, & 3; 4, 5, & 6; and 7, 8, & 9.

At the Annual Meeting, you will also hear reports of the progress and future plans of your cooperative from the President of the Board, Secretary/Treasurer of the Board and the General Manager.

 CAPITAL CREDIT

Big Country Electric Cooperative is a cooperative organization and is, therefore, a non-profit business. As a member-owner, you and all BCEC member-owners have capital credits allocated to you most years. At such time as the Board of Directors and the General Manager believe sufficient reserves are on hand, they refund capital credits to the people who were members during the year(s) that is/are to be refunded. To date, over $10 million in capital credits has been returned to members of their heirs.
Net margins earned by BCEC are credited to each member’s capital credit account every year. Capital credits are assigned in proportion to each member’s patronage or total electrical revenue during the year.

Capital credits are one of several advantages enjoyed by BCEC members. The members own the system – they elect fellow members to the Board of Directors who make the policies that control the operation of the cooperative. BCEC is in business to furnish service or products to the membership and not to make money for a few distant investors. It is owned and controlled by the members; this is why we say Big Country Electric Cooperative is “Owned by those we serve.”