Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative Inc

“The cooperative was formed by the members to provide electric service at cost on a cooperative basis.”

“The members of the cooperative vote on the board of directors. Elections are done on a one member one vote basis.”

“The following acts require approval of the members of the cooperative. 1. Dissolution/liquidation of the cooperative; 2. Merger or consolidation of the cooperative with another organization; 3. The disposal of a substantial portion of the cooperative's assets; 4. Amendments to the articles of incorporation; and 5. Amendments to the by-laws.”

“From time to time the entire board will go into executive session for discussing items of a sensitive and confidential nature. When this occurs management and others in attendance are removed from the meeting room. Items discussed in executive session are not documented. However, actions taken by the board after executive sessions are adjourned are fully documented in the written minutes.”

“Management presented a copy of the form 990 to the board for discussion, review and approval prior to filing. The discussion and review was performed at the board meeting immediately before filing the form 990.”

“Annually, at a date and time to be determined by the board, each trustee will affirm by written statement filed with the cooperative, that he or she is in compliance with the conflict of interest policy.”

“The board of directors hires a compensation consultant to study and prepare a salary schedule for general managers and ceo's of electric cooperative organizations of similar size and operations to that of the cooperative. The board uses this salary schedule to set the compensation for the cooperative's ceo. A copy of the independent consultant's recommendation and salary schedule is filed in the applicable personnel files as documentation of the process used by the board of directors for setting the compensation for the ceo.”

“The ceo and board of directors use the expertise of an independent compensation consultant and a compensation survey when determining the compensation of the cooperative's other employees meeting the definition of officer or key employee, if any. The survey includes salaries from similarly situated cooperatives throughout florida and the nation.”

“Each new member is provided a copy of the cooperative's by-laws. Each year the cooperative provides a summarized copy of the audited financial statements to the members of the cooperative at the annual meeting. The cooperative also provides a complete copy of the audited financial statements, conflict of interest policy or governing documents to any member who requests a copy.”

“Column f in order to provide retirement benefits to its employees, the cooperative has established a defined contribution plan under section 401(k) of the internal revenue code. As part of the plan document, the cooperative provides a matching contribution up to 3% of a participating employee's salary. Additionally, the cooperative participates in a multi-employer defined benefit plan. Contributions to this plan are based on the full funding limitation of such plan. Employer contributions for both plans are available to participating employees, including officers and highly compensated employees, meeting the eligibility requirements of such plans. The cooperative also provides health, dental, vision and life insurance to all employees, including officers and highly compensated employees, through a qualified plan. The amounts on part vii, column (f) for the officers and highly compensated employees are comprised of the actuarial increase in the defined benefit plan, the employer contributions to the 401(k) pension plan and the insurance premiums paid.”

“Line 2 patronage dividends result from the purchase of wholesale power from a generation & transmission cooperative. Patronage dividends also result from the payment of interest from cooperative banks and the purchase of supplies and services from other cooperative organizations. The expenses associated with purchases from and payments to such cooperative organizations are a direct component of cost of the electric service provided by the cooperative to its members. Form 990, part ix the accounting records of the cooperative are maintained in accordance with the rural utilities services (rus) uniform system of accounts as prescribed for electric borrowers of the rus. The uniform system of accounts does not record expenses in the general expense categories provided on part ix lines 1-23. As such, other expenses that are described in lines 1-23 are reported on line 24 under the expense categories required by the uniform system of accounts. Form 990, part ix, line 4 the form 990 instructions specifically state that the amount of patronage dividends paid to the members should be reported on part ix, line 4 as "benefits paid to members". The phrase "patronage dividends paid" refers to the process, subsequent to year-end, by which the cooperative allocates patronage capital to and, therefore, operates at cost with its patrons. The cooperative's tax exempt purpose is to provide electricity to its patrons and to do so on a cooperative basis. Tax law defines "operating on a cooperative basis" as subordination of capital, democratic control, and operation at cost. The cooperative operates at cost through the allocation of true patronage dividends (also referred to as allocations of patronage capital) to its patrons. Patronage dividends are considered paid if the allocation is made (1) pursuant to a pre-existing obligation, (2) from the margins produced from the transactions done with or for patrons, and (3) in a fair and equitable manner on the basis of patronage (i.e. Purchases). Additionally, the allocation of patronage dividends should be made within a reasonable time period after the close of the cooperative's year-end of december 31. Each one of these requirements for a true patronage dividend is provided for in the non-profit operation article of the cooperative's bylaws and is summarized as follows: (a) in order to induce patronage and to assure that the cooperative will operate on a nonprofit basis, the cooperative is obligated to account on a patronage basis to all its patrons for all amounts received and receivable from the furnishing of electric power and energy in excess of operating costs and expenses properly chargeable against such services (i.e. Margins from the provision of electric power and energy). (b) the margins from the provision of electric power and energy are received with the understanding that they are furnished by the patrons as capital. (c) the cooperative is obligated to pay by credits to a capital account for each patron for all such margins. And (d) all such amounts credited to the capital account of any patrons shall have the same status as though they had been paid to the patron in cash in pursuance of a legal obligation to do so and the patron had then furnished to the cooperative corresponding amounts of capital. The amount reported on part ix, line 4 represents the amount of patronage capital that is either allocated or to be allocated to the patrons resulting from their purchase of electricity from the cooperative for the 2015 calendar year. As noted above, such amounts are allocated subsequent to year-end in a fair and equitable manner on the basis of patronage (i.e. Purchases). The amounts allocated are representative of the margins from the provision of electric power and energy to the patrons and are done pursuant to the obligation that existed in the bylaws prior to the cooperative providing electricity to its patrons. Therefore, these amounts meet the definition of the term "patronage dividen”

“The cooperative's responsibility and aim as a member owned organization is to provide excellent and reliable customer service with competitive rates while enhancing the quality of life of residents in the suwannee river valley.”

“Form 990 part i, lines 15 and 17 part i, lines 15 and 17 prior year (2014) column were restated for purposes of consistency with amounts reported in the current year (2015). Total expenses on line 18 did not change.”

“Increase in memberships 1,225 patronage capital assignable margin 3,506,356 unclaimed patronage reassigned 213,824 other comprehensive income -85,200 patronage capital retired -646,969 total 2,989,236”

“The board as a whole is responsible for overseeing the financial statement audit and selecting the independent auditor. No changes were made to this process during the year.”