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NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION (NRECA)
NRECA is the national service organization dedicated to representing the national interests of cooperative electric utilities and the consumers they serve. The NRECA Board of Directors oversees the association's activities and consists of 46 members, one from each state in which there is an electric distribution cooperative. Founded in 1942, NRECA was organized specifically to overcome World War II shortages of electric construction materials, to obtain insurance coverage for newly constructed rural electric cooperatives, and to mitigate wholesale power problems. Since those early days, NRECA has been an advocate for consumer-owned cooperatives on energy and operational issues as well as rural community and economic development.
NRECA's nearly 1,000 member cooperatives serve 32 million people in 46 states. Most of the 875 distribution systems are consumer-owned cooperatives; some are public power districts. NRECA membership includes other organizations formed by these local utilities: 60 generation and transmission cooperatives for power supply; statewide and regional trade and service associations; supply and manufacturing cooperatives; data processing cooperatives; and employee credit unions. The association provides national leadership and member assistance through legislative representation before the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch; representation in legal and regulatory proceedings affecting electric service and the environment; communication; education and consulting for cooperative directors, managers and employees; energy, environmental, and information research and technology; training and conferences; and insurance, employee benefits and financial services. Programs are funded through dues and fees. For more information, contact NRECA |