Melrose, Minn. – Stearns Electric’s Operation Round Up® Program contributed $90,000 to 105 area organizations in March. Through the Operation Round Up® program, Stearns Electric Association member-consumers give back to area communities by rounding up their electric bill to the nearest dollar.
Since the program’s inception in 1993, Operation Round Up® (ORU) and Stearns Electric members have awarded over $3.55 million to nearly 6,000 local non-profit organizations and community service programs. The rounded-up funds, no more than $11.88 per year, per member, are placed in a trust fund that is administered by the Stearns Electric Association Trust Board.
The Co-op’s 2026 Trust Board Directors are:
• Al Poser of Randall, District 1
• Meredith Ulrich of Avon, District 2
• Chris Bergman of St. Cloud, District 3
• Nicki Holthaus of Richmond, District 4
• Dave Cebulla of Belgrade, District 5
• Ron Paulsen of Albany, District 6
• Mike Meagher of Grey Eagle, District 7
• Steve Gudgell of Grey Eagle, District 8
• Ann Reischl of St. Joseph, District 9
Trust Board Directors met on March 18th to review applications and funding requests. One hundred and five organizations were selected to receive funds totaling between $200 to $2,500 in this round of contributions.
Visit stearnselectric.org/community-impact/community/operation-round-up for a full list of March 2026 recipients and to learn more about the Stearns Electric Operation Round Up® Program.
