Magic 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. Amendment to the articles of incorporation”

“The cooperative has no committees with authority to act on behalf of the governing body. Therefore, and pursuant to form 990 instructions, the question has been answered "no".”

“Management presented a copy of the form 990 to the board for discussion and review prior to filing.”

“The board of directors and officers are required to review and be familiar with the policies outlined in the cooperative's conflict of interest policy. The board of directors and officers are required to disclose any action or situation that might violate the policy to the full board of directors as soon as possible. The conflict of interest policy is reviewed on an annual basis.”

“The board of directors use a compensation survey when determining the compensation of the general manager. The survey shows comparative salaries for general managers from cooperatives located in texas and the nation. The board and the general manager use a compensation survey when determining the compensation of the cooperative's other employees meeting the definition of officer and key employee, if any. The survey includes salaries from similar cooperatives throughout texas and the nation.”

“The cooperative provides a summarized audited financial statement to the members of the cooperative at the annual meeting. The cooperative will provide a complete copy of the audited financial statements, conflict of interest policy, or governing documents to any member who requests a copy.”

“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. Employer contributions to the plan are made pursuant to the plan document. 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 and life insurance to all eligible employees, including officers and highly compensated employees, through a qualified plan. The amounts reported on part vii, column (f) for the officers and highly compensated employees is comprised of the actuarial increase in the defined benefit plan, the total amount contributed by the cooperative to the defined contribution plan and insurance paid on behalf of and for their benefit.”

“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.”

“In general, when an electric cooperative bases the patronage dividend calculation on its net book income/(loss), page 1, part i, line 19 - revenue less expenses - will be $0. For the current year, page 1, part i, line 19 reports net loss of $50,000, which is the income statement effect of accrued unbilled revenue. The gaap basis financial statements include an accrual for unbilled revenue because the cooperative's billing cycle does not end on the last day of the month. Therefore, it has revenue in december of each year that it has earned but will not bill until the first billing cycle of the following year. The cooperative estimates this revenue and records it as accrued unbilled revenue in order to match the revenue with the year earned. However, the cooperative allocates the revenue to members in the year it is billed rather than when accrued. This timing difference is fair and equitable because it matches the patronage dividend allocated with the billing records used to allocate the margins. Due to the timing of when the cooperative allocates accrued unbilled revenue, page 1, part i, line 19 annually reports net income equal to the net increase in accrued unbilled revenue or a net loss equal to the net decrease in unbilled revenue. The following schedule is provided to further explain the impact of this transaction: add: unbilled revenue 12/31/19 $ 2,018,000 less: unbilled revenue 12/31/18 (2,068,000) (a) - net income(loss) on page 1, part i, line 19 $ (50,000) (b) - benefits paid to members (i.e. Patronage dividends), part i, line 14 $21,265,858 total 2019 net margin (a + b) $21,215,858”

“Although the cooperative is no longer a rural utilities service (rus) borrower, its accounting records are maintained in accordance with the rus uniform system of accounts (usoa) as prescribed for rus electric borrowers. The usoa does not record expenses in the general expense categories provided on part ix lines 1-23. The cooperative separately reports salaries and wages, employee benefits and payroll taxes that are allocated in accordance with their accounting system, but other expenses that are described in lines 1-23 are reported on line 24 under the expense categories required by the usoa.”

“Salaries and wages are allocated to asset, liability, and expense accounts based on the accounting system described above. The following schedule reconciles amounts reported on lines 5-7 to total wages accrued and/or paid: total per lines 5-7 $12,077,682 less: director fees reported on forms 1099-misc (263,000) less: employee officer benefits reported on line 5 (250,170) plus: salaries and wages allocated to nonoperating margins 240 plus: salaries and wages capitalized directly to plant 2,640,471 plus: salaries and wages capitalized/expensed indirectly through clearing & other accounts 3,355,172 total wages accrued and/or paid $17,560,395”

“Administrative and general expense is comprised of the following: administrative & general $ 1,378,592 general office 3,182,655 outside services employed 512,603 injuries & damages 662,242 property insurance 119,387 performance bonus & related benefits 788,412 regulatory commission 370,916 directors 371,640 dues in associated organizations 14,138 annual & district meetings 68,932 miscellaneous general 162,411 out of town business meetings 130,643 maintenance of general plant 2,784,607 total admin & general exp per financial statements $ 10,493,178 less: reclass of director fees to part ix, line 5 (263,000) less: reclass of labor to part ix, lines 5 & 7 (2,109,195) less: reclass of benefits to part ix, lines 8-10 (977,779) total admin & general expense per form 990, part ix $ 7,143,204”

“Pursuant to the form 990 instructions, the amount of patronage dividends paid to the members (hereinafter referred to as "patrons") should be reported on part ix, line 4. 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. 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 2019 calendar year. Because patronage dividends are the process by which the cooperative operates at cost with its patrons and thereby a key component to accomplishing its exempt purpose, the cooperative has reported such amounts as an expense for form 990 reporting. Patronage dividends are not an expense for financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, however.”

“Patronage capital allocated or to be allocated 21,265,858. Patronage capital retired -5,648,703. Net increase in memberships 18,750.”

“The board of directors have assigned members to an audit committee to oversee the financial statement audit and selecting the independent financial statement auditor. Procedural changes did not occur during the year.”