Capital Credits

Ocmulgee is organized as a cooperative, owned by its members. As a cooperative, Ocmulgee does not earn profits. Instead, any revenues and other income over and above the cost of doing business during a given year are considered “margins.”

A percentage of the margins is allocated to each member of the cooperative who bought power from the utility during the year they were earned. Each retail member earns the same percentage on their purchases, although the actual dollar amount so “credited” will vary from member to member because it is based upon total individual annual purchases.

Each member’s annual credit allocation is accumulated and totaled over the period of time that the member continues to receive service. Margins are treated as capital contributed by the membership to the cooperative to help reduce the cost of borrowing and hold down rates. Margins are used for a variety of operating and capital costs and are typically repaid in the future to the members of record for the year in which they were earned.

Once a year, a notice is published in our monthly newsletter explaining how much capital credits will be allocated to the members. An allocation is not the same as stock or cash. Allocated credits are typically paid to the members in cash over time through a process called capital credits retirement.

The Ocmulgee board of directors usually considers a retirement of capital credits annually. When a capital credits retirement is authorized by the Board, both the dollar amount and year(s) to which the allocations relate are specified. Current member equity refers to the dollar value of a member’s allocation – but not yet retired – capital credits. Immediate payment of a deceased member’s capital credits is permitted to allow the timely settlement of the estate.

If you want to submit such a claim for payment, come by our office and bring a copy of the death certificate along with a copy of the probated will, if one exists, showing the executor of the estate.

If you need additional information or assistance, email the Billing Department.

Unclaimed Property

Ocmulgee Electric Membership Corporation has unclaimed checks that must be turned over to the state Department of Revenue if they are not claimed by October 9, 2026. If you know any of these people or their heirs, please ask them to contact Marissa Sheffield, C/O Ocmulgee EMC, P.O. Box 669, Eastman, GA 31023, or call during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) at (478) 374-7001.