Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Information about Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) and its instructions is at| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Form 990, Page 1, Part I, Line 5 | THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES REPORTED ON LINE 5 REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF W-2'S ISSUED BY THE COOPERATIVE AND NOT NECESSARILY THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES NORMALLY EMPLOYED BY THE COOPERATIVE AND REPORTED TO RUS. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 4 | ARTICLE II OF THE BYLAWS WAS AMENDED TO CLARIFY JOINT MEMBERSHIPS, EVIDENCE OF MEMBERSHIP, AND THE OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE ELECTRIC ENERGY FROM THE COOPERATIVE. ARTICLE III OF THE BYLAWS WAS AMENDED TO UPDATE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A DIRECTOR, THE PROCEDURES FOR FILLING A VACANCY AND COMPENSATION, AND WHEN AN ELECTION IS CANCELLED. ARTICLE VIII OF THE BYLAWS WAS AMENDED TO CLARIFY THE COOPERATIVE'S RIGHT TO OFFSET AMOUNTS OWED BY A MEMBER TO THE COOPERATIVE WITH PATRONAGE CAPITAL APPROVED FOR RETIREMENT AND THE RIGHTS THE BOARD HAS TO RETIRE PATRONAGE CAPITAL. ARTICLE XIII WAS ALSO AMENDED TO CLARIFY THE PROCESSES BY WHICH THE COOPERATIVE'S BYLAWS MAY BE AMENDED. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 6 | THE COOPERATIVE WAS FORMED BY THE MEMBERS TO PROVIDE ELECTRIC SERVICE AT COST ON A COOPERATIVE BASIS. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 7a | THE MEMBERS OF THE COOPERATIVE VOTE TO ELECT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ELECTIONS ARE DONE ON A ONE MEMBER ONE VOTE BASIS. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 7b | THE FOLLOWING ACTS REQUIRE APPROVAL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COOPERATIVE: 1. THE DISPOSAL OF A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE COOPERATIVE'S ASSETS; 2. THE DISSOLUTION/LIQUIDATION OF THE COOPERATIVE; 3. THE MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF THE COOPERATIVE WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION; AND 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 8b | EXECUTIVE SESSION FROM TIME TO TIME THE ENTIRE BOARD WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR DISCUSSING ITEMS OF A SENSITIVE AND CONFIDENTIAL NATURE. WHEN THIS OCCURS MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE ARE REMOVED FROM THE MEETING ROOM. ITEMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ARE NOT DOCUMENTED. HOWEVER, ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE BOARD AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ARE ADJOURNED ARE FULLY DOCUMENTED IN THE WRITTEN MINUTES. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11 | MANAGEMENT PRESENTED A COPY OF THE FORM 990 TO THE BOARD FOR DISCUSSION, REVIEW AND APPROVAL PRIOR TO FILING. THE DISCUSSION AND REVIEW WAS PERFORMED AT THE BOARD MEETING IMMEDIATELY BEFORE FILING THE FORM 990. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c | THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND OBTAIN THE SIGNATURE OF EACH BOARD MEMBER ACKNOWLEDGING THE REVIEW OF THE POLICY. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 | THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS USES A COMPENSATION SURVEY WHEN DETERMINING THE COMPENSATION OF THE GENERAL MANAGER. THE SURVEY SHOWS COMPARATIVE SALARIES FOR GENERAL MANAGERS FROM COOPERATIVES LOCATED IN COLORADO AND THE NATION. THE MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION PLAN IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE BOARD AND THE GENERAL MANAGER USE A COMPENSATION SURVEY WHEN DETERMINING THE COMPENSATION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S OTHER OFFICERS. THE SURVEY INCLUDES SALARIES FROM SIMILAR COOPERATIVES THROUGHOUT COLORADO AND THE NATION. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 | 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. THIS IS DONE IN COMPLIANCE WITH BOARD POLICY 10, SECTIONS 1-4. 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 COOPERATIVE'S BYLAWS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CAN BE FOUND ON THEIR WEBSITE WWW.DMEA.COM. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 1B | MARSHALL COLLINS PER IRS FORM 990 INSTRUCTIONS IS NOT AN INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR BECAUSE HE IS ON THE BOARD OF TRI-STATE G&T. THE COOPERATIVE PURCHASES ELECTRIC ENERGY FROM TRI-STATE AND IS A MEMBER OF TRI-STATE. AS SUCH MR. COLLINS IS THE COOPERATIVE'S REPRESENTATIVE ON TRI-STATE'S BOARD. MR. COLLINS HAS NO OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN TRI-STATE AND RECEIVES NO DIRECT OR INDIRECT BENEFIT FROM THE COOPERATIVE DOING BUSINESS WITH TRI-STATE. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 1B | TERRY BROWN PER IRS FORM 990 INSTRUCTIONS IS NOT AN INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR BECAUSE HE IS ON THE BOARD OF WESTERN UNITED ELECTRIC SUPPLY CORPORATION (WUE). THE COOPERATIVE PURCHASES UTILITY MATERIALS FROM WUE AND IS A MEMBER OF WUE. AS SUCH MR. BROWN IS THE COOPERATIVE'S REPRESENTATIVE ON WUE'S BOARD. MR. BROWN HAS NO OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN WUE AND RECEIVES NO DIRECT OR INDIRECT BENEFIT FROM THE COOPERATIVE DOING BUSINESS WITH WUE. |
| Form 990, Part VII, Column F | 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 CONTRIBUTION OF .64% FOR NON-BARGAINING AND .96% FOR BARGAINING UNIT EMPLOYEE SALARIES. 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. |
| Form 990, Part VIII, Line 2B | 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. |
| Form 990, Part IX | 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 ACCOUNTING DOES NOT RECORD EXPENSES IN THE GENERAL EXPENSE CATEGORIES PROVIDED ON PART IX LINES 1 - 23. THE COOPERATIVE WILL BREAK OUT 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 WILL BE REPORTED ON LINE 24 UNDER THE EXPENSE CATEGORIES REQUIRED BY THE UNIFORM SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS. |
| Form 990, Part IX, Lines 5-7 | SALARIES AND WAGES ARE ALLOCATED TO ASSET, LIABILITY, AND EXPENSE ACCOUNTS BASED ON THE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM DESCRIBED ABOVE. IN AN EFFORT TO EXPLAIN WHY THE AMOUNTS REPORTED ON LINES 5-7 DO NOT AGREE TO THE TOTAL WAGES ACCRUED AND/OR PAID THE FOLLOWING RECONCILIATION IS PROVIDED. TOTAL PER LINES 5-7 $ 4,672,442 LESS DIRECTORS FEES REPORTED ON 1099-MISC (135,350) LESS EMPLOYEE OFFICER BENEFITS REPORTED ON LINE 5 (118,330) PLUS SALARIES AND WAGES ALLOCATED TO ASSET ACCOUNTS 3,269,261 PLUS SALARIES AND WAGES ALLOCATED TO NONOP MARGINS 29,177 TOTAL WAGES ACCRUED AND/OR PAID $ 7,717,200 |
| FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 24 | THE FOLLOWING IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE EXPENSES REPORTED AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND GENERAL EXPENSE ON FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 24 INSURANCE $ 95,066 INJURIES AND DAMAGES 5,168 OUTSIDE SERVICES 195,883 SUPPLIES 170,265 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 698,945 ADVERTISING 29,557 ANNUAL MEETING EXPENSE 48,409 MAINTENANCE OF GENERAL PLANT 301,141 MISCELLANEOUS GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE 435,275 TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE AND GENERAL EXPENSE PER 990 $ 1,979,709 |
| FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 24(E) | THE FOLLOWING IS A BREAKDOWN OF EXPENSES REPORTED AS OTHER EXPENSES ON FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 24(E): SALES EXPENSE $ 26,365 TRANSMISSION EXPENSE 168,209 TAXES 87,719 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 10,000 CAR HITS POLE, MISC JOBS/CONTRACT 1,726 ABANDONMENT LOSS 21,349 GEOTHERMAL AND HYDRO EXPENSES 95,511 DISPATCH EXPENSES 522,507 MARKETING EXPENSES 755 MISCELLANEOUS OTHER EXPENSES 4,170 TOTAL OTHER EXPENSES $ 938,311 |
| Form 990, Page 10, Part IX, Line 4 | THE FORM 990 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR CLARIFIES 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 BASIS 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 2013 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 ARE 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 2013 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. |
| Form 990, Part XI, line 9: | PATRONAGE CAPITAL RETIRED -1,121,606. PATRONAGE CAPITAL ASSIGNABLE 268,384. EQUITY METHOD INCOME (LOSS) 28,485. |
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