Nueces Electric Cooperative Inc

“During the year, the cooperative amended article i, section 8 of the bylaws. The amendment removed the requirement that membership lists must be returned to the cooperative within a reasonable amount of time after receipt.”

“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. Amendment to the articles of incorporation 2. Disposal of a substantial portion of the cooperative's assets 3. Dissolution and liquidation of the cooperative 4. Merger or consolidation of the cooperative with another organization”

“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.”

“Directors, officers and key employees are required to disclose immediately any relationships considered to be a possible conflict of interest.”

“The board of directors use the expertise of an independent compensation consultant and a compensation survey when determining the compensation of the ceo. The survey shows comparative salaries for ceo's/general managers from similarly situated cooperatives located in texas and the nation. The board and the ceo 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 and key employees, if any. The survey includes salaries from similarly situated cooperatives throughout texas and the nation.”

“The cooperative will provide a complete copy of its conflict of interest policy to any member requesting a copy. The cooperative also annually provides a copy of the audited balance sheet and income statement to the members of the cooperative with the annual report. Additionally, the bylaws, articles of incorporation, and annual financial reports are also posted to the cooperative's website.”

“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, dental, vision and life insurance to all eligible employees through a qualified plan. The amounts reported on part vii, column (f) for the officers and highly compensated employees is comprised of 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 income of $934,740, 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 12/31/17 $ 5,605,833 less: unbilled revenue 12/31/16 (4,671,093) (a) - increase equals net income on page 1 $ 934,740 (b) - benefits paid to members (i.e. Patronage dividends), part i, line 14 $12,307,101 total 2017 net margin (a + b) $13,241,841”

“Although the cooperative is no longer an rus borrower, its accounting records are maintained in accordance with the rus uniform system of accounts (usoa) 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 the total wages accrued and/or paid: total per lines 5-7 $ 4,489,026 less: directors fees reported on form 1099-misc (193,625) less: employee officer benefits reported on line 5 (298,786) plus: salaries and wages capitalized directly to plant 1,372,805 plus: salaries and wages capitalized/expensed indirectly through clearing and other accounts 369,806 total wages accrued and/or paid $ 5,739,226”

“Administrative & general expense is comprised of the following: administrative & general $ 1,240,947 office supplies 653,955 outside services 188,764 insurances 397,956 regulatory commission 342,422 directors 233,344 dues and subscriptions 74,037 annual meeting 173,957 advertising 1,492,815 miscellaneous general 316,971 maintenance of general plant 347,549 total admin & general exp per financial statements $ 5,462,717 less: reclass of director fees to part ix, line 5 (193,625) less: reclass of labor to part ix, lines 5 & 7 (1,049,008) less: reclass of benefits to part ix, lines 8-10 (489,980) less: offset of interdivision rent income (60,000) total admin & general expense per form 990, part ix $ 3,670,104”

“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 2017 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.”

“Other expenses are comprised of the following: other deductions $ 125,875 military privatization expenses 647,506 property taxes 1,270,196 total other expenses per form 990, part ix $ 2,043,577”

“Patronage capital assignable 12,307,101. Patronage capital retired - total -2,027,042. Patronage capital retired - discount 59,347. Net change in memberships -5,860.”

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