Sawnee Electric to Return $6 Million to 137,500 Current, Former Members

1. Sawnee Electric is returning about $6 million to members

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation announced it will retire roughly $6 million in patronage capital and return those funds to members. That $6 million represents allocated revenue above operating costs that the cooperative is distributing back to people who helped pay those costs, a hallmark of the co-op model. The move is effectively a community-level redistribution of surplus earnings rather than a dividend paid to outside shareholders.

2. About 137,500 current and former members are eligible

The distribution will reach roughly 137,500 individuals who received electric service during the years specified by the cooperative. Eligibility covers both current members and former members who met Sawnee’s criteria, so the payout spreads across a broad cross-section of Forsyth County households and past customers. That wide reach makes the retirement meaningful as a local event rather than a niche corporate action.

3. Current members will receive the refund as a March bill credit

For members still on Sawnee’s books, the cooperative will post the credit directly to their March electric bill, reducing the amount due or increasing any credit balance. That timing means the average household will see the benefit almost immediately in their next cycle of monthly expenses, providing a small but timely cushion for winter energy costs or other budget needs. Members should examine their March statement to confirm the credit and how it’s applied to usage and fees.

4. Former members will receive mailed checks in early April

Former members will receive their portion as a mailed check expected around early April, which creates a slightly delayed cash flow effect compared with the billing credit. Because these are physical checks, recipients should verify that Sawnee has their current mailing address on file to avoid delays or returns. If a check does not arrive, former members will need to contact the cooperative to confirm eligibility and address information.

5. The refunds result from retirement of patronage capital — how the co-op model matters

Sawnee described the payments as the retirement of patronage capital: allocated revenue in excess of operating costs that co-ops periodically return to members. This mechanism underscores a structural difference between electric cooperatives and investor-owned utilities: co-ops circulate surplus back to users rather than retaining it for external shareholders. For local policy and community finance, that means more direct community ownership of utility finances and periodic redistributions that act like a small, targeted fiscal transfer to households.

6. Local economic impact, average payout and practical steps for members

At roughly $6 million divided among 137,500 recipients, the average payout is on the order of $44 per member — a modest one-time boost to household budgets that can cover part of a monthly energy bill, a grocery trip, or a contribution to a home-efficiency upgrade. Aggregated locally, this distribution functions as a micro-stimulus: cash flowing into many households tends to get spent quickly on essentials, supporting local retail and services in Forsyth County. For practical steps, check your March bill for the credit or watch for an April check if you’re a former member; confirm your mailing address with Sawnee if you expect a mailed payment; and treat the refund strategically — for families facing tight budgets it can offset near-term energy costs, while homeowners might consider using funds for LED upgrades or minor weatherization that reduce bills over the long term.