Tri-County 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 by district.”

“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. Disposal of a substantial portion of the cooperative's assets and 4. Amendments to the articles of incorporation.”

“Management presented a copy of the form 990 to the board for discussion and review subsequent to filing. The discussion and review was at the next regularly scheduled board meeting.”

“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. If any disclosure arises, the general manager reviews the contract and/or purchase procedures. Additionally, the general manager and staff evaluate employee relationships with vendors and other outside entities for possible conflict of interests.”

“The board of directors use a compensation survey and compare compensation reported on other cooperative irs forms 990 when determining the compensation of the general manager. The survey shows comparative salaries for general managers from similarly situated cooperatives located in texas and the nation. The board and general manager use a compensation survey and compare compensation reported on other cooperative irs forms 990 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 provides a summarized copy of the audited financial statements 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. All requests must be made in writing.”

“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 the base salary of each qualifying employee. 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, meeting the eligibility requirements of such plans. The cooperative also provides health and life insurance to all employees, including officers, through a qualified plan. The amounts reported on part vii, column (f) for the officer is comprised of the actuarial increase in the defined benefit plan for the officer, the total amount contributed to the 401(k) pension plan and the insurance premiums paid for the benefit of the officer. In addition to the above pension plans, the cooperative also provides post-retirement health insurance benefits through an unfunded welfare benefit plan. The value of these benefits has not been estimated.”

“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.”

“The accounting records of the cooperative are maintained in accordance with the uniform system of accounts as prescribed by the federal energy regulatory commission for class a and b electric utilities. The uniform system of accounts 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 uniform system of accounts.”

“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 $4,838,571 less directors fees reported on 1099-misc (195,062) less employee officer benefits included in line 5 (202,877) plus salaries and wages capitalized directly to plant 2,115,708 plus salaries and wages capitalized/expensed indirectly through clearing and other accounts 822,398 total wages accrued and/or paid $ 7,378,738”

“Administrative and general expense is comprised of the following: office supplies and expense $ 1,568,070 outside services employed 502,311 insurance 161,752 maintenance of general plant 504,791 regulatory commission expense 423,624 miscellaneous expense 168,799 total administrative and general expense per 990 $ 3,329,347”

“Other expenses are comprised of the following: sales expense $ 967,034 customer service expense 76,617 total other expenses per form 990, line 24e $ 1,043,651”

“The form 990 instructions specifically state that the amount of patronage dividends paid to the members 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 members. The cooperative's tax exempt purpose is to provide electricity to its members 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 members. 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 members, 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 members for all amounts received and receivable from the furnishing of electric energy in excess of operating costs and expenses properly chargeable against such services (i.e. Margins from the provision of electric energy). (b) the margins from the provision of electric energy are received with the understanding that they are furnished by the members as capital. (c) the cooperative is obligated to pay by credits to a capital account for each member for all such margins. And (d) all such amounts credited to the capital account of any member shall have the same status as though they had been paid to the member in cash in pursuance of a legal obligation to do so and the member 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 members resulting from their purchase of electricity from the cooperative for the 2014 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 energy to the members and are done pursuant to the obligation that existed in the bylaws prior to the cooperative providing electricity to its members. Therefore, these amounts meet the definition of the term "patronage dividends paid". Please note, however, that because patronage dividends is the process by which the cooperative operates at cost with its members and thereby a key component to accomplishing its exempt purpose, the cooperative has reported the amount of its 2014 margin that has been or is to be allocated to the members subsequent to year-end. Such amounts are an expense for form 990 reporting and is not an expense for financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. As a result, the difference between the cooperative's gaap basis financial statements and the revenue less expenses reported on part i, line 19 is the amount of patronage dividends reported as benefits paid to members.”

“Other comprehensive income - provision for pensions and benefits -781,867. Equity method loss from subsidiary -1,804,201. Net change in memberships 64,721. Patronage capital assignable 36,872,405. Patronage capital retired -4,008,795. Patronage capital retired - unclaimed 654,470.”

“Audited financial statements were prepared by an independent accountant for the cooperative's fiscal year end of march 31st. The tax return has been and continues to be prepared based on a calendar year end of december 31.”

“The board as a whole is responsible for overseeing the financial statement audit and selecting the independent financial statement auditor. Procedural changes did not occur during the year.”