Mountain Parks Electric Inc

“During the year, the cooperative's bylaws were amended. The following is a summary of the changes: article vii--non-profit operation section 2--patrange capital connection with furnishing electric energy paragraph (a) added paragraph to allow board to determine how losses derived from the furnishing of electric energy can be allocated to patronage capital within accepted practices of accounting, loan convenants, and federal cooperative tax law. Paragraph (b) was amended to state all amounts other than electric margins, and net margins derived from other goods and services provided on a patronage basis pursuant to section 2(j) of this article" shall be used to offset any losses incurred during the current or any prior year as determined by the board. Article xi--miscellaneous section 1--membership in other organizations, deleted the mention of section 2(h) as reference is incorrect.”

“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. Nominations and elections are conducted by the geographical voting district to which the members are assigned. All voting is done on a one member one vote basis within each district.”

“The following acts require approval of the members of the cooperative: 1. Amendments to articles of incorporation 2. Amendments to bylaw articles iii (sections 4 and 5), article iv and article vii, section 1 pertaining to voting quorums, number of board members and districts, and the requirement to operate on a nonprofit basis for the mutual benefit of the members, respectively 3. Dissolution/liquidation of the cooperative 4. Disposal of a substantial portion of the cooperative's assets 5. Merger or consolidation of the cooperative with another organization additionally, mpei bylaws reserve to its membership the power to remove directors from the board by a vote of 10% of the membership, with no requirement for board approval. The bylaws also allow members to call a meeting by a petition signed by at least 50 members.”

“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 provided a complete copy of the form 990 to the board for review prior to filing.”

“The board of directors and staff annually review the conflict of interest policy in a board meeting. Any conflicts are made known if they exist.”

“The board of directors use a compensation survey when determining the compensation of the cooperative's general manager. The survey is produced by the statewide association and includes salaries from similarly situated cooperatives throughout colorado. 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 similarly situated cooperatives throughout colorado and the nation.”

“The cooperative will provide a complete copy of its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and audited financial statements to any member who requests a copy of any such document. Annually the cooperative provides a copy of the audited balance sheet and income statement to the members of the cooperative with the annual report. Finally, the annual report and bylaws can be found on 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. These employer contributions are available to participating employees meeting the eligibility requirements, including officers, key employees and highly compensated employees. The cooperative also provides health and life insurance to all eligible employees through a qualified plan. The amounts reported on part vii, column (f) for the officers, key employees and highly compensated employees are comprised of the total amount contributed to the defined contribution pension plan and the insurance premiums paid for their benefit. In addition to the above plans, the cooperative also provides post-retirement health insurance benefits through an unfunded welfare benefit plan. Benefits payable under the plan were curtailed and capped as of january 1, 2015.”

“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 ($93,081), which is the income statement effect of accrued unbilled revenue, use of equity method for subsidiary, change in deferred income, and adjustments for non-operating margins. 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 12/31/24 $ 5,264,187 less: unbilled revenue 12/31/23 (4,713,621) net increase in unbilled revenue $ 550,566 add: non-operating margins retained 356,353 less: change in deferred revenue (1,000,000) (a) - net income/(loss) on page 1, part i, line 19 $ (93,081) (b) - equity method net income/(loss) 39,390 (c) - benefits paid to members (i.e. Patronage dividends), part i, line 14 $ 2,428,092 2024 net margin per financial statements (a + b + c) $ 2,374,401”

“The accounting records of the cooperative are maintained in accordance with the rural utilities service (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 its 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.”

“Administrative and general expense is comprised of the following: administrative & general salaries, benefits, & other $ 2,753,089 office supplies 520,853 outside services 1,318,343 injuries & damages 583,696 annual & other meetings 234,876 miscellaneous general 397,834 directors 163,820 dues & subscriptions 148,868 total admin & general exp per financial statements $6,121,379 less: reclass of director fees to part ix, line 5 (109,780) less: reclass of labor to part ix, lines 5 & 7 (2,231,899) less: reclass of benefits to part ix, lines 8-10 (709,018) total admin & general expense per form 990, part ix $ 3,070,682”

“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 $ 6,747,182 less: director fees reported on forms 1099-nec (109,780) less: employee officer benefits included in line 5 (133,552) less: key employee benefits included in line 5 (252,380) plus: salaries and wages capitalized directly to plant 1,854,897 plus: salaries and wages capitalized/expensed 1,257,003 total wages accrued and/or paid $ 9,363,370”

“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 allocated to the patrons resulting from their purchase of electricity from the cooperative for the 2024 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.”

“All grants, sponsorships, and/or donations are made to non-profit and civic organizations that are located in the cooperative's service area, and are intended to improve the communities in which our members reside. Each grant, sponsorship, and/or donation made during the year was below the reporting threshold of schedule i, part ii.”

“Equity method income from subsidiary corporation 39,390. Patronage capital allocated 2,428,092. Patronage capital retired - total -690,921. Patronage capital retired - discount 17,850. Prior period equity adjustment 268,588.”

“The board as a whole is responsible for overseeing the financial statement audit and selecting the independent financial statement auditor.”