Operation Round Up

One of the Cooperative Principles that governs Southern Rivers Energy is "Commitment to Community" and this program beautifully demonstrates that principle. Operation Round Up® is an easy way for you to make a big difference by providing financial assistance for charitable and educational projects within our communities without lifting a finger.

Operation Round Up® was originally started by Palmetto EMC, a co-op in South Carolina and has now been adopted by several co-ops nationwide. This program is designed to assist a variety of worthwhile community, youth, educational and environmental programs within the counties served by SRE including: Bibb, Coweta, Crawford, Lamar, Meriwether, Monroe, Pike, Spalding and Upson.

Sign up for Operation Round Up® to be added to your monthly bill here.

View a few of our 2022 grant recipients here.

Apply for a grant:

Group Application  Individual Application

When applying for funds, please submit 13 copies of the application and all supporting documents to:

Southern Rivers Energy Trust, Inc.
P.O. Box 40
Barnesville, GA 30204

 

Application Deadlines

The Trust Board meets bi-monthly starting in January. Please make sure you are using the most current version of our applications, listed above.

*2024 Meeting and Deadline schedules are subject to change.

  • Meeting Date: Jan. 10  (Application Deadline: Dec. 27)
  • Meeting Date: Mar. 13  (Application Deadline: Feb. 28)
  • Meeting Date: May 8  (Application Deadline: April 24)
  • Meeting Date: Jul. 10  (Application Deadline: June 26)
  • Meeting Date: Sept. 11  (Application Deadline: Aug. 28)
  • Meeting Date: Nov. 13  (Application Deadline: Oct. 30)

The maximum amount an individual may receive is $5000 and the maximum amount an organization may receive is $10,000. Applications may be submitted once every 24 months. Funds will not be granted for general operating expenses including salaries and utilities.

View Our Bylaws   View Our Funding Guidelines

Only one group per tax ID number may submit an application every 24 months. So school systems or county entities applying under the umbrella of the school or the county's tax-exempt status can only submit one application every 24 months (i.e. one school or county organization unless the group has its own individual tax-exempt status).

How does it work?

Each month, your electric bill is "rounded up" to the nearest whole dollar amount with those extra few cents going into a separate Operation Round Up® fund. So, if your bill is $87.23, you will actually be billed an even $88.00 and the extra 77 cents will go directly to the Operation Round Up fund. Doesn't sound like much, does it? And, if you figure the average member will only contribute approximately $6.00 PER YEAR, it still doesn't sound like much--until you multiply that $6.00 by about 10,000 members and that adds up to a lot!

Of course, all contributions are tax deductible. Any individuals or organizations seeking assistance through the Operation Round Up® must submit 13 copies of an application (which can be downloaded at the top of this page) that will then be reviewed by The Southern Rivers Energy Trust, Inc. Board of Directors at their bi-monthly meeting.

This is a voluntary program and our members can sign up or opt out at any time by contacting our office at 770-358-1383 or toll free, 877-358-1383.

The program at Southern Rivers Energy began in November of 2005 and currently, an estimated 60% of our members are participating.

A separate Board of Directors governs the Trust made up of community volunteers that were nominated by the Southern Rivers Energy Board as follows:

  • Jeanie Travis, Chairman – Yatesville
  • Dale Simms, Vice Chairman – Culloden
  • Darcy Sutton, Secretary - Lizella
  • Rusty Lanier, Treasurer - Meansville
  • Jeremy Coleman - Gay
  • Charles Glass - Barnesville
  • Bennett Norris - Culloden
  • Linda Smith Olivier - Barnesville
  • Jody Thaxton - Macon
  • Jim Totten - Williamson
  • Bob Wiggins - Forsyth