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Sullivan Art Program Receives H.U.G.S. and Sharing Success Grant Funds

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The Sullivan Art program received $5,000 in grants from Pioneer Electric’s Helping Us Give to Society (H.U.G.S.) program and an additional $2,500 from CoBank’s Sharing Success program. The Art program will use the funds to purchase new classroom furniture and replenish art supplies. Representatives from Pioneer Electric presented the grants to the school on Nov. 17.

“The tables and chairs in the art room currently do not match,” said Stephanie Manis, Sullivan Elementary Art teacher. “Having new tables and chairs that match will not only bring cohesiveness to the room but will also provide a better working area for my students.”

The new tables and chairs will coordinate with Manis’ color-coding method for sectioning groups in her classroom. Manis hopes by improving the working environment for students and introducing them to a variety of art mediums will help her students continue to express themselves in positive ways through art.

“The Sullivan Art program is a great example of the type of projects H.U.G.S. was created to help with,” said Ruby Terrazas, energy services coordinator and H.U.G.S. team member. “By creating a welcoming and fresh environment in the classroom, students are going to be engaged and get the most out of their education.”

Join Us For Member Appreciation

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As a non-profit electric cooperative, Pioneer allocates its annual operating margins to members receiving service during the year. These margins (revenue in excess of expenses) are based on your patronage and are called capital credits. They are used by your cooperative for operating funds and paid back to its members as the financial condition of the cooperative permits and bylaw provisions are met.

Pioneer Electric is proud to announce the retirement of $4 million in capital credits to members including $1.8 million in Pioneer Electric patronage (usage) from 1999 and 2020 and $2.2 million in generation and transmission capital credits for service used in 2011 and 2020. Capital credits will be distributed in the form of a check to members; any balances under $5 will not receive a check. Additionally, any accounts with an overdue balance (60 days) will have their capital credits applied directly to their account.

Capital credit checks will be available for pickup during Pioneer Electric’s Member Appreciation event (Dec. 2, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.) at the Grant County Civic Center. In addition to receiving their capital credit check, members are welcome to tour the North Pole, and visit with Santa. Free chili and cinnamon rolls will also be served throughout the event.

Capital credit checks will not be available at Pioneer Electric’s office; any checks not picked up during Member Appreciation will be mailed. Additional information about the capital credits retirement process is available here.

Pioneer Electric to Retire $4 million in Capital Credits During Member Appreciation Celebration

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Pioneer Electric is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, owned by the members we serve. Our utility operates at cost, allowing us to retire any funds that exceed our operating expenses back to our members as capital credits. The amount returned to members is determined through a four-part retirement process: determination of membership, allocation, evaluation and retirement.

Membership is established by having (or previously having) electrical service through Pioneer Electric. Members (as owners) have stake in the margins of the cooperative. Capital credit amounts are determined based on members’ patronage (electricity used) throughout their years of membership with Pioneer Electric.

As a non-profit electric cooperative, Pioneer allocates its annual operating margins to members receiving service during the year. These margins (revenue in excess of expenses) are based on your patronage and are called capital credits. They are used by your cooperative for operating funds and paid back to its members as the financial condition of the cooperative permits and bylaw provisions are met.

Before funds can be retired, the Pioneer Electric Board of Trustees evaluates the financial strength of the cooperative. The board then determines the total dollar amount of capital credits to retire (if financially viable) back to the members. Pioneer Electric historically uses a “hybrid” method that splits the retirement amount between the current year and the oldest year of patronage on record.  If approved, Pioneer Electric then retires (pays) capital credits back to members in the form of a check.

The Pioneer Electric Board of Trustees has approved the retirement of $4 million is capital credits back to members in 2021 including $1.8 million in Pioneer Electric patronage (usage) from 1999 and 2020 and $2.2 million in generation and transmission capital credits for service used in 2011 and 2020. Members will be able to pick up their capital credit check during Pioneer Electric’s Member Appreciation on Thursday, Dec. 2 at the Grant County Civic Center between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Capital credit checks will not be available at Pioneer Electric’s office; any checks not picked up during Member Appreciation will be mailed.