On-Bill Donations

On-Bill Donations are voluntary payments from utility customers to a dedicated fund, foundation or trust that uses funds for specified healthy watershed projects.  

About

On-Bill Donations are voluntary, potentially recurring, donations by utility customers that they pay alongside their monthly utility bill. The funds are remitted to a foundation, charity, trust or community action agency to disburse as indicted by an ordinance, bylaw or resolution.

Some donation programs are 鈥渙pt-in鈥 programs, and others, through bylaws adoption, are 鈥渙pt-out.鈥 Cuivre River Electric has an opt-out program, and 90% of the 62,500 member customers participate in the Round Up program which has raised more than $5 million.

Typically, donations align with the mission of the stormwater program, but also positively impacts disadvantaged communities or the community as a whole (educational programs, etc.). When implementing a donation program be sure that it only supports projects or programs that are above and beyond the level-of-service the utility should be providing to all customers. The basic level-of-service should be funded by rates, fees and taxes 鈥 not donations.

Consult with your municipality鈥檚 legal counsel prior to program establishment.


 Project Examples

Cuivre River Electric, MOOperation Round Up

Through a Trust, Cuivre River Electric members donate by 鈥渞ounding up鈥 on their bill. The funds are used to help families cope with emergencies, illness and medical needs; help low-income and elderly with home efficiency improvements; help schools improve educational opportunities; assist youth organizations to promote good citizenship; and aid community and emergency service providers.

Consult your community鈥檚 attorney and financial advisors prior to moving forward with any of these funding options. Any reference in this website to any person, or organization, or activities, products, or services related to such person or organization, or any linkages from this website to the website of another party, do not constitute or imply the endorsement, recommendation, or favoring of companies or organizations.