Operation RoundUp – Matanuska Electric Association, Inc.

Local giving making a difference in our communities

Operation RoundUp® is a member supported program that allows our membership to round their bill to the nearest dollar each month. That additional change goes directly to support grants to organizations in our communities that we serve. The MEA Charitable Foundation Board, which is comprised of MEA member volunteers, meets quarterly to review and award Operation RoundUp® Grant Applications. All Operation RoundUp® funds are given locally and stay locally.

View List of 2023 Grant Recipients To Date (.pdf)

View our 2021 Tax Record (.pdf)

What to do if an outage occurs

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1. Report the outage to MEA

In most cases, your phone call will go to MEA’s automated system. When a large outage occurs, there simply aren’t enough people to answer the phones. Using the automated system, we can gather outage reports quickly from our members any time of day. The automated system also allows our dispatchers to call many members back at once to confirm each member’s power is back on. This is important, as we don’t want to send the crews away from your location if we haven’t completed restoring power.
If MEA determines the outage is widespread and/or could affect members for more than an hour, local radio stations are notified so they can announce repair progress. The following stations help report extended outages for MEA when they occur within the station’s broadcast area: KAYO 100.9, KMBQ 99.7 FM, KTNA 88.9 FM.
MEA also uses Facebook and Twitter to post updates on outages.

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2. Be Safe

Depending on the time of year, extended outages may require you to temporarily use alternative energy and heat sources. Please do so safely!

Generators
Generators pose serious hazards when not used properly. Make sure you know how to use one safely for backup energy. If you are considering getting a generator, get advice from a professional, such as an electrician. Make sure that the generator you purchase is rated for the power that you think you will need.

Never wire a building’s electrical system into a generator unless you have a proper switching setup to isolate your home from the grid. If isolation is not ensured, “back feed” through the electric meter and into MEA’s power lines will happen when the generator is brought on line. Linemen working to restore your power can come into contact with your power source and be injured or killed. See Generator Diagrams for more information.
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Ventilation
Adequate ventilation is critical. Exhaust from the generator contains carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that is deadly. Always run the machine outdoors.
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Extension Cords
Use caution with extension cords. Always follow the guidelines specified by the generator manufacturer regarding extension cords and appliances. If you must use an extension cord, make sure it is heavy-duty grade, properly grounded and in good condition. Position cords out of the way to prevent tripping hazards, but never cover them with rugs or tape.

Heating

Heating the home using alternative sources is one of the leading causes of home fires. Take these precautions to cut your risk of starting a fire in the home.

Never use your stove or oven to heat your home.
Never leave alternative heaters unattended—turn off space heaters or extinguish the fireplace before going to bed or leaving home.
Keep all flammable materials and potential fuel sources—including but not limited to newspapers, matches, bedding, clothing, carpets and rugs—at least three feet away from heat sources such as space heaters, fireplaces and stoves. Place your space heater (use a model that shuts off automatically if the heater falls over) on a hard, level, nonflammable surface.
Keep the fire in your fireplace by using a glass or metal screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs. Never leave fireplaces unattended. Be sure to have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys and furnaces professionally inspected once a year.
Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home. Check them once a month by pressing the test button, and replace batteries as necessary.
Have a fire extinguisher easily accessible in every room of your house.

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3. Conserve Energy

Keep traffic through your outside doors to a minimum to avoid losing household heat during a winter outage. If possible, gather family members in a central room and close off the rest of the house.
Do not open refrigerators or freezers more than necessary. Food will remain frozen in most freezers for at least 24 hours and often for two or more days as long as the freezer isn’t opened.
Unplug all appliances and turn your thermostat to its lowest setting until power is restored. Power restoration after an outage can cause damage to sensitive electronic equipment such as TVs and computers. To protect your equipment, MEA recommends you install voltage surge protectors and/or an uninterrupted power supply system (UPS). During an extended outage, some people turn off all the breakers in the house except one going to a lamp that is turned on, to let them know when power is restored.

Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I or my organization apply for a grant?

To apply for a grant please download the appropriate application below and submit the completed application via the instructions on the last page of the application.

Grant Application Deadlines

Quarter

Applications Received at MEA Headquarters By

Grant Awarded After

1st

March 31

April 28

2nd

June 30

July 28

3rd

September 30

October 27

4th

December 29

January 26

*Grants are due in an office by 5 p.m. on the day they are due. The Charitable Foundation Board regrets it is unable to expedite grants.

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How much money will be raised each year?

Based on an average of .25 cents per month from participating MEA members, about $168,000 could be raised annually.

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Who decides where donated funds are distributed?

Charitable Foundation grant applications are reviewed by and voted on by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of MEA members representing the entire service area. Each of the seven (7) MEA Board members nominate a representative for the MEA Charitable Foundation Board of Directors. These foundation volunteers receive no stipend and/or mileage reimbursements. They are:

David Dahms
Barbara Gerard
Kelly Sidebottom
Dee Bowns
Linda Menard
Sue Smith
Angela Hobbie
Robert Johnson
Sharon Hein

Applications are reviewed and voted on quarterly.

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How do I know how much of my bill is going to Operation RoundUp®?

Your monthly billing statement will have a line listing Operation RoundUp® and the amount that rounds up your bill to the next dollar.

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Why is it an opt-out program?

In 2011, the MEA Membership voted 2 to 1 to make Operation RoundUp an “opt-out” program instead of an “opt-in” program. After approval from the MEA Board of Directors and the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA), MEA bills are now automatically rounded up to the nearest dollar. Each participating MEA member gives $.11-$11.88 annually, with the average amount being $4.22. None of the funds go toward administrative costs or anything other than the grants provided; the program is operated by our volunteer Charitable Foundation Board.

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Members have the option to opt-out of the program and be refunded up to three years of their contributions by request. To opt-out, e-mail optout@mea.coop, call customer service at (907) 761-9300 or visit us in person at any one of our three district offices.

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I'd like to give more than a dollar each month, can I?

Absolutely! You can designate any additional amount you would like to donate by calling customer service at (907) 761-9300 or visit us in person at any one of our three district offices.

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Are my donations tax deductible?

While MEA can’t offer tax advice, your donations can generally be considered tax deductible, charitable contributions.

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If I have multiple accounts will they all be rounded up?

Yes. Every MEA account will be rounded up to the nearest dollar.

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What if I choose not to participate?

To opt-out, e-mail optout@mea.coop, call customer service at (907) 761-9300 or visit us in person at any one of our three district offices.

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What if I have opted out of the program and now wish to participate again?

To rejoin the program, just email us at optin@mea.coop, call customer service at (907) 761-9300, or visit one of our district offices in Palmer, Wasilla, or Eagle River.

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What if I change my mind after a few months? Can I get my money back?

Yes. If at any time during your enrollment you change your mind, you can contact us and the entire amount contributed by you in the three years immediately preceding your opt-out date will be credited to your electric account.