Round It Up Frequently Asked Questions

Round It Up FAQ

What is Round It Up?
Round It Up is a voluntary program that puts your change to work helping others in our community. KUB automatically rounds your bill up to the next dollar and contributes those funds to weatherize homes of families in need, which can help lower energy bills. Since the program started in 2015, contributions from KUB customers have helped hundreds of lower income households in our community.

Why should I participate in Round It Up?
Your change can help change our community for the better for less than $12 a year. Weatherizing homes saves energy, which is good for the environment. It also helps reduce the need for chronic energy assistance for low-income families. That lets assistance programs help more people who have temporary or emergency needs.

What if I don’t want to participate? 
Round It Up is a voluntary program, and you can choose not to participate at any time by

  • Logging into your account, visiting the Billing Options section, and clicking the "Enrolled" check box beneath Round It Up section. Next, choose "Unenroll."
  • Calling KUB at 865-524-2911; you can use the automated phone system or speak to a representative.
  • Checking the box on the back of your bill stub and sending it to KUB.

What if I have been participating, but I change my mind? Can I get my money back?
Yes. If you change your mind, KUB will credit up to 12 months of your donation to your account.

What if I decide later that I want to start participating again? 
You can choose to re-join the program at any time. Just log into your account, go to the My Account page, and click on the “Inactive” link next to Round It Up.

If I have multiple accounts will they all be rounded up?
Yes. Every account will be rounded up to the nearest dollar.

Are my donations tax deductible?
KUB can’t offer tax advice, but Round It Up donations can generally be considered tax deductible, charitable contributions.

How do I know how much of my bill is going to Round It Up?
Your monthly billing statement will have a line listing Round It Up and the amount that rounds your bill up to the next dollar.

How much money does KUB estimate Round It Up will raise each year?  
Assuming an average contribution of 50 cents per month and a customer participation rate of 50 percent, the program can raise more than $50,000 a month, or $600,000 a year, to support weatherization.

Although the example above uses 50 cents, the actual Round It Up amount could vary from one cent a month to a maximum of 99 cents a month. Multiplied by 12 months, customers yearly donations could range from a minimum of 12 cents to a maximum of $11.88.

Why did KUB start the Round It Up program?
The IBM Smarter Cities Challenge Report, which IBM presented to the City of Knoxville in May 2013, recommended that KUB, as a partner with the City and other stakeholders, implement a Round It Up program.

Who administers the program?
KUB works with several community organizations to provide weatherization services. KUB manages the process to round up bills and sends 100 percent of the money collected to the program administrator. The program administrator receives applications from low-income customers that meet federal program guidelines of eligibility and manages the weatherization process according to those guidelines.

Currently, Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC) administers Round It Up under its existing Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). WAP is an award-winning program that has successfully weatherized homes in the Knoxville area for many years. CAC is a public nonprofit agency that offers a variety of community services and operates under the umbrella of the City of Knoxville and Knox County. The CAC Board of Directors includes representatives from the City and County and other organizations such as Knox County Schools, Head Start, the Knox County Health Department, and Knoxville-Knox County Planning.

Round It Up funds may also be used to fund Home Uplift, a TVA EnergyRight weatherization program that offers income qualifying KUB customers free weatherization.

What is the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), and how does it work?
The Weatherization Assistance Program is the nation’s largest residential energy efficiency program. The aim of this program is to reduce the energy cost of low-income families through energy-efficient weatherization measures. WAP specifically focuses on assisting low-income people – primarily the elderly, persons with disabilities, and families with children. Weatherization addresses the excessive burden of high energy costs for low-income families. Professionally trained crews will evaluate single-family homes, multi-family dwellings, and mobile homes. Through an energy audit, determinations can be made about which energy efficient measures are appropriate, cost-effective and essential for the health and safety of the occupants.

Weatherization Works For Individuals By: 

  • Reducing energy costs for families.
  • Providing education in energy-efficient practices.
  • Addressing health and safety concerns.
  • Increasing financial independence.
  • Creating greater flexibility in spending choices.

Weatherization Works For Communities By:

  • Promoting energy efficiency.
  • Creating jobs.
  • Executing successful Public/Private partnerships.
  • Improving neighborhood housing conditions.
  • Helping to create an empowered community.

How do I know all funds collected are used for the weatherization programs?
Both KUB and CAC undergo annual financial audits, providing assurance that all donations to Round It Up are appropriately accounted for.