Operation Round-Up

Today, hundreds of electric cooperatives across the country have implemented Operation Round Up, as a community focused program within their business! Operation Round Up was introduced by SIEC as a way to help our consumer-members and organizations close to home. Operation Round Up is a charitable program designed to financially support qualified organization/agency and individual/family initiatives that contribute to the betterment of communities within SIEC’s geographic focus.

Funds are raised through a voluntary round-up process on consumer-member bills or by other specified monetary contributions. SIEC consumer-members can voluntarily enroll in the Operation Round Up program – agreeing to round up their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar (or other specified amount). With the traditional round up program, the average individual contribution is 50 cents per month and never exceeds $11.88 per year. This may not seem like a large amount, but when combined with over 8,000 members, it adds up fast and could make a significant impact. The program is always voluntary, and members can opt out anytime.

This program is overseen by a committee and will allow our members to actively participate in giving back to the communities we serve. As all cooperatives adhere to the seven cooperative principles, including “Concern for Community,” the Operation Round Up program is the perfect embodiment of this core principle. It also encompasses the cooperative principle of Member’s Economic Participation.

Individual Application

Organization Application

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the Operation Round Up program was started by Palmetto Electric Cooperative in South Carolina in 1989. It was a way for their cooperative to act as a conduit and help facilitate the cooperative members in giving back to their communities. The program has now been adopted by hundreds of other rural electric cooperatives across the nation.

One of the cooperative principles is Concern for Community. Cooperatives feel a strong responsibility to the people in the communities we serve that goes beyond simply providing reliable and safe electricity. One of the most rewarding aspects of Operation Round Up is that it is an extension of the concept of neighbors helping neighbors that built our electric cooperatives in the first place.

Funding for Operation Round Up is donated by co-op members who volunteer or opt into rounding up their monthly electric bill to the next whole dollar amount. For example, if your electric bill is $86.75, it will round up to $87.00, and your contribution for the month would be 25-cents. Your traditional round up donation never goes about 99-cents per month. The average donation for the year is $6.00, and the most it would ever be is $11.88! It is small change, but when you multiply that by the thousands of SIEC members eligible to participate in the program, it delivers big benefits to the local community. So, if 1,000 members were registered and donated an average of $6.00 per year, that would amount to $6,000 that would go right back to our community.

Many participants choose to add a flat dollar amount ($1, $2, $5, $10, or Other $ Amount) to their monthly SIEC bill in addition to the rounded up amount.

Employees or non-members can also contribute at any time for any other specified monetary contribution.

Operation Round Up is an at-will and voluntary, or opt-in, program offered to our membership, employees, and accepts outside donations from anyone.

You may opt-out of your donation at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Operation Round Up?

Do other electric cooperatives utilize Operation Round Up?

How does Operation Round Up work?

How do I sign up?

How are donations collected?

Are these donations tax-deductible?

How do I stop contributing to the Operation Round Up program?

What are possible uses for Operation Round Up?

How are funds managed?