Operation Round-Up® gathers voluntary contributions from participating cooperative members by “rounding up” their monthly bills to the next dollar – resulting in an average donation of roughly $6 per year, which is distributed to worthy local causes.  Small change indeed. But multiplied by our 3,800 members, it is “small change that changes lives.”

Every donation is made to applicants right in our own local area, and nearly all of the contributions go to the needy, not to the administrative costs of running the program. What is most rewarding about the concept of Operation Round-Up® is that it is an extension of the concept of neighbor helping neighbor that built our electric cooperative.

A committee of cooperative members will oversee the program. These members will meet quarterly to review applications and determine how funds can best be used for the benefit of individuals and community projects.

The B-Y Electric Board of Directors will appoint one committee member from each of the seven board districts.

The Operation Round-Up® program is intended to benefit people and organizations within the B-Y Electric service area. Operation Round-Up® funds may be used for community service projects, economic development, education and youth programs, environmental projects, emergency energy assistance, and disaster relief.

Non-profit organizations, groups, and individuals within B-Y Electric’s service area are eligible for Operation Round-Up® grants. Applicants are not required to be members of B-Y Electric, and projects outside B-Y Electric’s boundaries will be considered if they benefit B-Y Electric members and our local communities.

Applications are available at the top of this web page or by contacting our office at (605) 463-2507.

Grant applications are accepted and reviewed biannually. Application deadlines are May 15 and November 15. Applications must arrive at our office by the deadline or be turned in at the office before closing time on the prior business day if the deadline falls on a weekend or non-working day. The Operation Round Up® committee will review and approve funds shortly after each deadline. 

Applications are judged based upon 1) potential benefit to the residents and community; 2) level of community support for the project or organization; 3) capability of the applicant to deliver a quality service or program; and 4) final results that can be envisioned and evaluated.

For more information, view the guidelines attached to each application. 

Yes; donations will be published in the Cooperative Connections newsletter or can be viewed on our Recipients Page.

The Operation Round Up® program is voluntary. Each new member is automatically signed up to participate, but any member who wishes to not participate may notify us in one of five ways:

1. Opt-out on our website
2. Call our office at (605) 463-2507
3. Email ebiz@byelectric.com
4. Stop by our office at 134 S. Lidice St., Tabor
5. Sign and return the form in their "new member" packet

The average member will contribute $6.00/year, and the most they can contribute is $11.88/year. Each month your electric bill is “rounded up” to the nearest whole dollar amount with the extra change going into a separate Operation Round Up® fund. For example, if your bill is $149.56, you will actually be billed an even $150.00 and the extra $0.44 goes towards helping various goodwill causes in our communities.

The total amount you have contributed during the year will appear on your December electric bill.

Only one account per membership will be rounded up.

Over 350 electric cooperatives around the country participate in Operation Round-Up® including many in South Dakota. Operation Round-Up® is another way for B-Y Electric to fulfill our cooperative principle of  “Concern for Community.”