Inland Power Mails Capital Credit Checks

Inland Power & Light Co. has mailed checks worth more than $1.4 million to 13,500 members and former members.

General Manager Richard Heitman said the distribution of capital credits accumulated in 1981 was the largest ever by the Spokane-based electrical cooperative.

Controller Kris Mikkelsen said capital credits are comparable to the profits earned by shareholder-owned utilities. They are retained for capital expenditures in lieu of borrowing, then returned.

Inland returns the credits on a 14-year cycle, one of the shortest in the industry, she noted.

About $200,000 of the checks are going to former Lincoln Electric Cooperative members for credits accumulated before 1981.

She said the distributions are the first of five that will be made to bring Lincoln members current with those of Inland, which they have voted to merge with.

The distribution checks average about $100, with a $25 minimum.

, DataTimes