THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, August 16, 1995             TAG: 9508150095
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN    PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINDSOR                            LENGTH: Medium:   54 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: **************************************************** ************* Two stories in last week's Citizen suffered from computer glitches so severe that we are publishing three photos again today - and offering apologies to the people involved and to our readers. The second problem involved Brenda Mansfield, member services supervisor for Community Electric Cooperative, whose photo appeared with a story on customer refunds. Her image was badly distorted. The Citizen apologizes to her and the Barlows - and to our readers. Correction published, The Citizen, August 23, 1995, p. 2 ***************************************************************** MOST OF ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE'S CUSTOMERS SHARE $290,000

More than 6,400 Community Electric Cooperative customers cashed in on the consumer-owned, non-profit corporation's $290,000 capital credit refund recently.

Refund checks were mailed July 28 to more than 75 percent of the cooperative's 8,000 customers in the company's service area, which includes parts of Suffolk and Isle of Wight, Sussex, Surry and Southampton counties, member services supervisor Brenda Mansfield said.

Only customers who were owed more than $2 received a check, she said. Anyone due less than $2 will be credited the next time refunds are given. The average per check works out to $45.

The cooperative turns any excess revenues into capital credits at the end of each fiscal year. According to Mansfield, these credits are used as equity for the corporation and working capital for the cooperative.

As the cooperative's financial condition improves, Community Electric then returns the capital credits to customers as refunds, Mansfield said.

``At the end of each year, the board looks at our profit margins to see what we can afford to do. We try to do it annually.''

This year's $290,000 refund is the largest general retirement of funds in Community Electric's history. The cooperative has refunded more than $1.75 million since it was incorporated in 1938. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER

Brenda Mansfield sent out checks totaling $290,000.

by CNB