JEMC program to benefit charities, less fortunate

JEFFERSON - Jackson EMC is launching a program to benefit charitable organizations and the less fortunate in the ten counties it serves.

Using a nationally recognized program called Operation Round Up, participating Jackson EMC member-consumers will have their monthly electric bill rounded up to the next even dollar.

Spokeswoman Bonnie Jones says on average, EMC members will contribute $6.00 per year, which will be deposited in the Jackson EMC Foundation. Foundation funds will be administered by a volunteer board of directors and be used to fund grant requests from charitable organizations and individuals.

"Jackson EMC has a long history of helping improve the quality of life in the communities we serve through contributions and sponsorships," said cooperative president and CEO Randall Pugh, "but we are tremendously proud of our members for joining together and using the strength of their numbers to make change in their communities by donating their spare change."

There cooperative currently serves 185,000 meters, with 180,000 individual accounts.

"If every one of our cooperative members participated, Operation Round Up could generate more than $1 million annually, Pugh said. "The power of our members is their ability to come together to accomplish what they couldn't do as individuals. As a group, they have the ability to do an amazing amount of good in our communities, improving the quality of life for many people and serving their fellow citizens."

Individual EMC members will determine whether they choose to participate over the next six months, with voluntary rounding up beginning in October.

Jones says, however, member-consumers who neglect, for whatever reason, to opt out of the program, and then realize their bills are being rounded up, will be allowed to do so even after the program has started. In addition, Jones says any money collected over and above the actual amount of the bill will be refunded.