About The Publisher, NRECA
The Publisher
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), an Arlington, Va.-based service organization that represents the interests of more than 900 consumer-owned, local electric cooperatives in 47 states, publishes ECT.coop and RE Magazine. Since 1942, NRECA has advocated for electric cooperatives on issues ranging from energy and operational concerns to community and economic development. Members of NRECA include distribution cooperatives, generation and transmission cooperatives (G&Ts), and affiliated groups.
The nation’s distribution co-ops deliver electricity to more than 18 million homes, businesses, industries, farms, schools, and seasonal residences. G&Ts, formed by distribution co-ops, generate and transmit wholesale power. Affiliated member organizations include statewide and regional trade and service associations, supply and manufacturing cooperatives, data processing cooperatives, co-op employee credit unions, equipment manufacturers, wholesalers, and consulting firms.
NRECA oversees cooperative employee benefit plans; carries out federal government relations activities like lobbying; conducts management and director training; and spearheads communications, advocacy, and public relations initiatives. In addition, it coordinates national and regional conferences and seminars; offers member cooperatives advice on tax, legal, environmental, and engineering matters; and performs economic and technical research. Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives, the national brand alliance for electric co-ops, develops resources that help electric co-ops build consumer loyalty.
The Electric Cooperative Industry
Electric cooperatives are private, not-for-profit, independent electric utility businesses owned and controlled by the consumer-members they serve. Most were established in the late 1930s and early 1940s to provide electricity to areas that large investor-owned utilities refused to serve. Electric co-ops are governed by an elected consumer-member board of directors. Boards set policies and procedures that are implemented by professional staff.
Electric co-ops serve consumers in 2,500 of 3,141 counties in the United States; own assets worth $112 billion; own and maintain 2.5 million miles, or 42 percent, of the electric distribution lines in the United States spread across 75 percent of the nation’s land mass; deliver 10 percent of the total kilowatt-hours sold and generate five percent of the total electricity produced in the United States each year; and employ 70,000 people.
Source: NRECA Strategic Analysis (May 2009)
Land Mass Served by Electric Cooperatives
Cooperative Consumer Growth Leads Electric Utility Industry
Cooperative Sales Growth Usually Outpaces the Rest of the Electric Utility Industry
Services Purchased in 2008 by Electric Distribution Cooperatives
Products Purchased in 2008 by Electric Distribution Cooperatives (NEED PDF)