News > We Work For You – Member Accounts

We Work For You – Member Accounts

May 2025

At Stearns Electric Association, our mission is member focused. In everything we do, a team of dedicated employees is behind the scenes working on behalf of our member-consumers. 

As an organization that works on behalf of our member-consumers – our owners – we pride ourselves on being available to you when you have a concern or question for the Cooperative. If you’ve ever called or visited the office, your first point of contact was likely with someone from the member accounts department. 

TYPICAL DAY
Our member accounts department oversees many areas of the Co-op. A typical day means a lot of variety for the member accounts team, depending on what the members need from Stearns Electric. Some important touch points for our member accounts team include: 

• Welcoming visitors to the office 
• Answering member phone calls 
• Processing payments 
• Maintaining accurate membership records 
• Transferring electric service 
• Managing billing and collections 
• Working with members on payment arrangements 
• Managing Capital Credits 
• Maintaining meter communication 
• Addressing high usage concerns 

“Each work day varies greatly since it is unknown what membership calls will need to be completed and what visitors will come into the office. Through all the different duties of my job, I try to focus on being happy and making others smile.” 

BILL CALCULATION
One important function the member accounts department oversees is the monthly bill calculation process. Our monthly bill calculation process is a multi-day, multi-department effort. Stearns Electric is a distribution cooperative that buys and sells power. To ensure accurate billing and provide a timely billing statement to our members, many employees must complete reports in their specific areas that come together every month. 

ELECTRIC METERS: 101
Accurate meter readings are an important part of ensuring accurate billing for our member-consumers. When meters are not communicating properly, our member accounts team travels in the field to inspect the situation. 

Your electric meter measures the electric consumption for your home, business, equipment, etc. Our meters allow for two-way communication between your electric meter and Stearns Electric. Our metering system communicates via power line communication, directly using our existing electrical wiring to transmit meter information used for billing.

“We take being member-owned very seriously and operate the Cooperative in the best interest of each member while not hindering safety and reliability to the membership and our employees.” 

CAPITAL CREDITS – A COOPERATIVE DIFFERENCE
As a member-owned electric cooperative, there are several things that set us apart from other electric utilities, including Capital Credits. 

Unlike investor-owned utilities which aim to make a profit for shareholders, Stearns Electric refunds capital (money) above the cost of operations, to our member-consumers in the form of Capital Credits. Since Stearns Electric’s beginning, we have distributed over $43 million in Capital Credits to our members. 

If you have a loved one who passes away who was a member, make a call to the Cooperative to inquire about the potential of Capital Credit patronage. 

“Though some Capital Credit checks might be smaller increments, it is important for you to keep your information current with Stearns Electric so future checks find you. Our payout timeframe currently sits at about 21 years. Moving off our lines does not mean that you forfeit that money – it remains linked with you, the account holder, and continues to pay out over time.”