NOVEC Asks Customers to Help Low-Income People Stay Warm this Winter

Contact: Priscilla Knight, 703-392-1580, pknight@novec.com

NORTHERN VIRGINIA—The Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative is asking its customer-owners and members of the Northern Virginia community to help local unemployed people, low-income families, and the elderly heat their homes this winter by donating money to NOVEC’s Operation Round Up® fund.

Donna Snellings, NOVEC’s public relations liaison, says, “With the national unemployment rate still above 9 percent, many area residents need heating assistance. We’re asking our customers and members of the community to participate in ORU to help everyone stay warm this winter.”

NOVEC customers and non-customers have contributed almost $550,000 since the program’s inception in 1997. Because NOVEC absorbs all administration costs, 100 percent of all donations go into the fund.

How to Participate in Operation Round Up®
NOVEC customer-owners authorize NOVEC to round up their monthly electric bills to the next dollar. For example, if a bill is $69.54, NOVEC will round it up to $70 and put the extra 46¢ in the ORU fund. Customers who participate donate approximately $6 a year.

NOVEC customers may join ORU online at www.novec.com/oru12 or they may call the customer service center, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at 703-335-0500 or toll-free: 1-888-335-0500. Customers who sign up to participate by Dec. 3, 2010, will be entered into a drawing for one of 10 VISA gift cards.

People who are not Co-op customers, and customers who wish to make additional donations, may send checks in any amount, payable to NOVEC Operation Round Up, to NOVEC, P.O. Box 2710, Manassas, VA 20108.

How ORU Helps People Stay Warm
After receiving donations, the ORU board, composed of NOVEC customer-owners, sends donations to six organizations:

• The Salvation Army, Loudoun County
• The Salvation Army, Fairfax County
• Action in Community Through Service (ACTS), Prince William County
• SERVE, a program of Northern Virginia Family Service, Prince William County
• SERVE, Inc., Stafford County
• Fauquier Family Shelter Services, Fauquier County

These organizations distribute the funds to low-income people who need help paying their heating bills.