PRVEPA Members Giving Back on Bills - WHLT 22 Connecting the Pine Belt

PRVEPA Members Giving Back on Bills

The Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association along with the Greater PineBelt Community Foundation are partnering for the "Round Up for Education Fund."

Members' electric bills are rounded up to the nearest dollar. That extra change goes to a scholarship fund for PRVEPA members or their children who attend a community college.

"Somewhere between a penny and 99 cents we're rounding up to the nearest dollar." Kurt Brautigam is the manager of member services for Pearl River Valley Electric says they began the collection in November 2012. They serve power to more than 47 thousand meters in 12 counties.

They sent a news letter out to members in October about the round up for education fund.

"Ninety-five percent of our members are still enrolled in the program even though they do have the opportunity to opt out," says Brautigam.

If members want to opt out of donating they can call a PRVEPA office, but if you opt out you aren't eligible for scholarships.

"It's about 20 thousand a month that's coming in," says Theresa Erickson, director of the Greater Pine Belt Community Foundation which is an independent charitable foundation. They handle the funds collected by the electric company that will go towards scholarships. "It is going to create scholarships for hopefully hundreds of individuals who want to go to school," says Erickson. Scholarships are for members only who are full-time incoming freshmen students.