"Operation Roundup"

The Albemarle Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) uses our rounded off bills to donate fund to the Albemarle Community Trust (ACT)

Their website at Albermarle-EMC.COM has a "Community" link in the left, that leads to a page called "Operation Roundup". According to the page members can volunteer to donate the rounded off difference in their bill to the nearest dollar.

According to my bills, they've been rounding off this difference and donating it to ACT for well over a year before I'd read this on their site. Maybe they had sent word about it in a bill before they started rounding off the bill. I generally open the bill to see what damage we've done over the last 30 days to our electric bill. But I don't always read over the inserts that might be stuck in there with the bill.

I've heard other people have called about having their bills rounded off, and Albemarle EMC explains what it's for, and lets them know that they can opt-out if they'd like. I find it rather strange that the site tells me I can opt-in to the program, but they actually expect people to opt-out if they disagree.

The funds donated to the cause are tax deductible, since it is a charity, but how many people are going to calculate all 12 months from their bill to find what figure they've donated, so they can take advantage of this deduction?

Their site states: With over 10,000 members in Albemarle EMC, there is a significant opportunity for real impact in the Albemarle region. That does make my fraction of a dollar stretch a lot further that I've ever been able to accomplish. How do you feel about this? Comments can be made though the "Message Board" in the left links by registered members. Take some time out and let us read what others feel about this program?

Thanks in Advance