First Electric Cooperative utility bill assistance from Roundup For Change

Tens of thousands of dollars per year are collected by First Electric Cooperative as part of the Roundup For Change program, and some of those funds go to pay for low income energy bill assistance. The cooperative collects donations from the public, companies, charities, and even Cooperative employees. While the funds can pay for various community projects, emergency utility bill assistance is but one of the uses of the money. Other uses of the money can be for community projects, charities, business grants and more.

The donations from the community are not much, and the First Electric Cooperative Corporation would never ask or expect a lot of money from people. In fact, the average annual donation is but $6 per customer (whether residential or commercial). Those “small” $6 donations are polled together to equal that 15 to 25K annual amount, and the funds can be used for energy as well as utility bills for income qualified families.

Enroll into voluntary donations to help the low income

The service is free to sign up for. All donations go to pay for the First Electric Cooperative utility bill assistance from Roundup For Change. What happens is the customer who donates will have their utility bill rounded up to the next highest dollar amount. While it may be pennies donated per month (no more than 50 cents per month), all of those funds add up to make a difference in helping lower income families with their bills. It is a neighbor helping neighbor program.

In fact, the average annual donation for each person who gives back will be about $6 per year. So it is not a lot of cash that is donated over the course of a year. But that money can be used to pay First Electric Cooperative bills to help the less fortunate keep their power or electric on. Even $6, when pooled with other donors, makes a difference when it comes to a utility bill.

Applying for Roundup for Change from First Electric Cooperative

There are two options out there for clients. One is a local community action agency. They can offer applications and combine it with LIHEAP applications and/or weatherization. As far as applying for utility bill assistance from RoundUp for Change, or donating money, dial 800-489-7405 to reach member services. Or to reach the community action agency, that phone number is 211. In either case, staff will direct potential donors or low income families to the best resources.

 

 

As noted, 100% of those donations go to the needy, charities, or community projects. When it comes to the needy, utility bill assistance can be provided by Roundup for Change. For anyone seeking to donate, the Round Up System is one option. Or provide a one time contribution. Any donation is appreciated by the First Electric Cooperative Corporation, and they are voluntary. Donations can be started or stopped at any time, with 100% of funds going to charities including energy bill help programs.