Walton EMC Customer-Owners Getting Easy Refund

More than 95,000 Walton EMC customer-owners are getting a refund without standing in long lines or trying to find an elusive receipt. All they have to do is look for the line on this month's electric bill that reads "Capital Credit Refund." Customer-owners who received electric service during 1986, 1987 and/or 2011 are included in this year's $3 million refund. The total amount returned over the last 25 years is $46 million. Issuing the refund via bill credits saves tens of thousands of dollars in labor, printing and postage. Checks are cut for refunds greater than $500. Because Walton EMC operates as a cooperative and is owned by those who receive its service, it doesn't make sense to show a profit. After the bills are paid and a reasonable amount is held for emergencies, the rest is returned. The refund each person gets is based on the amount of electricity they bought. The co-op's board of directors - customer-owners themselves - looks at current finances and determines if issuing a refund is prudent.