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, Part VI, Section A, line 1 | THE COOPERATIVE HAS 9 BOARD MEMBERS; ALL 9 ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE, HOWEVER THE BOARD CHAIRMAN VOTES ONLY IN THE CASE OF A TIE. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 2 | BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP: ALAN HUNNICUTT (DIRECTOR) AND KRISTY ESTREM (DIRECTOR) SHARE A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP. ROB BOAZ (PRESIDENT/CEO) AND ALAN HUNNICUTT (DIRECTOR) BOTH SERVED ON THE BOARD OF ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CORPORATION AT THE REQUEST OF AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COOPERATIVE. ROB BOAZ (PRESIDENT/CEO) AND CARLA HATHORN (DIRECTOR) BOTH SERVED ON THE BOARD OF ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. AT THE REQUEST OF AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COOPERATIVE. |
| 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 ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ELECTIONS ARE DONE VIA UNITED STATES MAIL ON A ONE MEMBER ONE VOTE BASIS. MEMBERS COMPLETE AND RETURN WRITTEN BALLOTS IN A SEALED ENVELOPE ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COOPERATIVE. |
| 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 B, line 11 | MANAGEMENT PROVIDED A COPY OF THE FORM 990 TO THE BOARD PRIOR TO FILING. THE BOARD DISCUSSES AND REVIEWS THE COMPLETED TAX RETURN AT THE BOARD MEETING SUBSEQUENT TO FILING OF THE FORM 990. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c | ALL DIRECTORS AND KEY EMPLOYEES MUST ANNUALLY REVIEW THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND SIGN A CONFLICT OF INTEREST CERTIFICATION AND DISCLOSURE FORM AND DELIVER THE COMPLETED, SIGNED FORM TO THE CHAIRMAN OR THE PRESIDENT/CEO. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 | THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS USE A COMPENSATION SURVEY AND COMPARE COMPENSATION REPORTED ON OTHER COOPERATIVE'S IRS FORM 990S WHEN DETERMINING THE COMPENSATION OF THE PRESIDENT/CEO. THE SURVEY SHOWS COMPARATIVE SALARIES FOR PRESIDENTS/CEOS FROM SIMILARLY SITUATED COOPERATIVES LOCATED IN ARKANSAS AND THE NATION. THE BOARD AND THE PRESIDENT/CEO USE A COMPENSATION SURVEY 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 ARKANSAS AND THE NATION. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 | THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND THE BYLAWS OF THE COOPERATIVE ARE PROVIDED IN WRITTEN OR ELECTRONIC FORM UPON REQUEST. THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT IS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL MEMBERS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS. ANY MEMBER, UPON REQUEST, IS PROVIDED A COMPLETE COPY OF THE COOPERATIVE'S AUDIT REPORT. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 1b | THE COOPERATIVE IS A MEMBER OF AND PURCHASES ELECTRIC UTILITY SUPPLIES AND INVENTORY FROM THE ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (AECI). AS A MEMBER, THE COOPERATIVE APPOINTED DIRECTOR CARLA HATHORN TO REPRESENT ITS INTERESTS ON THE BOARD OF AECI DURING 2013. BECAUSE DIRECTOR HATHORN SERVED ON THE BOARD OF AECI, SHE IS CONSIDERED TO BE "NOT INDEPENDENT" PER IRS FORM 990 INSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, DIRECTOR HATHORN HAD NO OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN AECI AND RECEIVED NO DIRECT OR INDIRECT BENEFIT FOR THE COOPERATIVE DOING BUSINESS WITH AECI. THE COOPERATIVE ALSO IS A MEMBER OF AND PURCHASES ELECTRIC ENERGY FROM THE ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CORPORATION (AECC). AS A MEMBER, THE COOPERATIVE APPOINTED DIRECTOR ALAN HUNNICUTT TO REPRESENT ITS INTERESTS ON THE BOARD OF AECC DURING 2013. BECAUSE DIRECTOR HUNNICUTT SERVED ON THE BOARD OF AECC, HE IS CONSIDERED TO BE "NOT INDEPENDENT" PER IRS FORM 990 INSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, DIRECTOR HUNNICUTT HAD NO OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN AECC AND RECEIVED NO DIRECT OR INDIRECT BENEFIT FOR THE COOPERATIVE DOING BUSINESS WITH AECC. |
| 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 DIVIDENDS AND 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 MODIFIED FOR ELECTRIC BORROWERS OF THE RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE(RUS). 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 $11,335,887 LESS DIRECTORS FEES REPORTED ON 1099-MISC (233,181) LESS OFFICER BENEFITS REPORTED ON LINE 5 (217,619) PLUS SALARIES AND WAGES ALLOCATED TO ASSET ACCOUNTS 5,698,134 TOTAL WAGES ACCRUED AND/OR PAID $ 16,603,219 |
| 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 OFFICE AND SUPPLIES $ 701,339 OUTSIDE SERVICES 168,706 REGULATORY COMMISSION EXPENSE 273,378 DUPLICATE CHARGES (101,722) DIRECTORS EXPENSES 56,347 GENERAL PLANT MAINTENANCE 721,756 MISCELLANEOUS GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE 1,011,927 TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE AND GENERAL EXPENSE PER 990 $2,831,731 |
| FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 4 | THE FORM 990 INSTRUCTIONS SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT 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 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 PATRONS 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 PATRONS AS CAPITAL. (C) THE COOPERATIVE IS OBLIGATED TO PAY BY CREDITS TO A CAPITAL ACCOUNT FOR EACH PATRON FOR ALL SUCH MARGINS. AND (D) ALL SUCH AMOUNTS CREDITED TO THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT OF ANY PATRONS SHALL HAVE THE SAME STATUS AS THOUGH THEY HAD BEEN PAID TO THE PATRON IN CASH IN PURSUANCE OF A LEGAL OBLIGATION TO DO SO AND THE PATRON 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 ALLOCATED TO THE PATRONS 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 PATRONS AND ARE DONE PURSUANT TO THE OBLIGATION THAT EXISTED IN THE BYLAWS PRIOR TO THE COOPERATIVE PROVIDING ELECTRICITY TO ITS PATRONS. 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 PATRONS AND THEREBY A KEY COMPONENT TO ACCOMPLISHING ITS EXEMPT PURPOSE, THE COOPERATIVE HAS REPORTED THE AMOUNT OF ITS 2013 MARGIN THAT HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO THE PATRONS 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 IX, Line 24E | THE FOLLOWING IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE EXPENSES REPORTED AS OTHER EXPENSES ON FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 24E TRANSMISSION EXPENSE 342,753 MISCELLANEOUS GENERAL EXPENSE 19,674 TOTAL OTHER EXPENSES PER FORM 990, LINE 24E $ 362,427 |
| Form 990, Part XI, line 9: | NET CHANGE IN MEMBERSHIPS 33,455. PATRONAGE CAPITAL ASSIGNED 13,532,502. UNCLAIMED PATRONAGE CAPITAL CREDITS RETAINED PER STATE LAW 5,691,274. OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME -1,116,049. |
| Form 990, Part XII, Line 2B | AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WERE PREPARED BY AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT FOR THE COOPERATIVE'S FISCAL YEAR END OF FEBRUARY 28TH. 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. |
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