Established in 2011, Operation RoundUp® is a MEA member-supported charitable program in which members’ monthly electric bills are rounded up to the nearest dollar. The “extra change” is collected and pooled into the MEA Charitable Foundation, which awards grants to nonprofit and community organizations within MEA’s service territory. Since its start in 2011, more than $2,698,067.87 has been granted back to the community. Participating members contribute between $0.11 and $11.88 annually, with average contributions around $4.22 per year. MEA wants members to know that participation is completely voluntary and you may opt out at any time.

How did Operation RoundUp® start?

• In 2011, MEA’s membership voted (approximately 2 to 1) to adopt Operation RoundUp® as an “opt-out” (i.e. default enrolled) program rather than having it be opt-in.
• This design was approved by MEA’s Board of Directors and the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA).

How does it work?

1. Rounding up your bill
   Each month, your electric bill is rounded up to the next whole dollar. For example, if your bill is $45.63, it becomes $46.00 — the extra $0.37 goes into the RoundUp fund.
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2. Collection into the Foundation
   The sum of all “round-ups” is deposited into the MEA Charitable Foundation fund. ‍On average, participating members give about $4.22 per year. MEA’s Charitable Foundation distributes on average over $160,000 annually in grants to local nonprofits and organizations within our service territory.
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3. Grant review and awards
   A volunteer foundation board (made up of MEA member volunteers) meets quarterly to review grant applications from eligible organizations.

Transparency & oversight

• None of the funds collected go toward administrative costs — all go to grants made to local organizations and non-profits.
• The volunteer foundation board receives no stipends or mileage reimbursement.
• MEA publishes an annual tax record and on a quarterly basis a list of grant recipients.

Participation

Am I automatically enrolled?
Yes, unless you opt out. The program is default-enrolled for all members, following the 2011 membership vote.

Can I opt out?

Absolutely. You may opt out at any time, and MEA will refund up to three years of your prior contributions by crediting your electric account.

To opt out, you can:

• Email: optout@mea.coop
• Call MEA customer service: (907) 761-9300
• Visit a district office in person (Palmer, Wasilla, Eagle River)

If I opted out earlier, can I rejoin?

Yes. To re-enroll, you can email meacontact@mea.coop, contact Member Services (907) 761-9300, or visit one of the offices.

Grant eligibility & process

• Organizations must operate within MEA’s service territory (Eagle River / Chugiak and the Mat-Su Borough).
• Grant requests are capped at $10,000 per application annually.
• Applications are due by the quarterly deadlines (5:00 p.m. on the deadline day) and must include the financials of the applying organization.
• The volunteer foundation board (made up of MEA members) reviews and votes on the grant applications.

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Common Questions

Q: Why make it opt-out rather than opt-in?
The opt-out structure was adopted by member vote in 2011 (approx. 2 to 1) so that the program could reach scale and generate meaningful community funding with minimal barrier to entry.

Q: How much will I give?
‍On average, participating members give about $4.22 per year. The most a participant could give is $11.88 in a year.

Q: Isn’t it a tiny amount per person? Is it worth it?
Yes — because many members contribute small amounts, the collective total is substantial. MEA’s Charitable Foundation distributes on average over $160,000 annually.

Q: Where does the money go?
‍All money stays local. It helps nonprofits and community groups in Eagle River, Chugiak, and the Mat-Su Valley. Since 2011, MEA members have given more than $2.6 million back to the community.

Q: How can I monitor how my money is used?
‍MEA publishes the list of grant recipients, the foundation’s tax records, and makes grant applications and board decisions publicly accessible.
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Q: Can the MEA Board or staff pick grant winners?
‍No — the independent volunteer foundation board (that are MEA members) reviews applications, verifies information, and awards grants to applicants on a quarterly basis.

Q: Can I opt out?
‍Yes, at any time. Just email optout@mea.coop, call (907) 761-9300, or stop by one of our offices. If you want to rejoin, you can do that anytime too.

Q: Why are people talking about this program now?
‍The State Attorney General recently raised questions about “automatic” round-up programs. MEA wants members to know that participation is completely voluntary and you may opt out at any time.

Q: Where can I learn more?
‍Visit mea.coop/operation-roundup for program details, grant deadlines, and stories about how your small change is making a big difference.

What MEA is Doing to Stay Transparent & Responsive

To maintain member trust and adapt to evolving expectations, MEA is committed to:

• Maintaining clear disclosure on monthly bills (showing exactly how much is rounded up).
• Offering easy and prompt opt-out and re-enrollment procedures.
• Continuing robust financial transparency — we publish the foundation’s tax forms, grant recipient lists, and audit results.