About NRECA

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. 

ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE The consumer service mission of cooperative electric utilities shapes NRECA's organization and operations. 

THE BASICS NRECA's 1,000 member cooperatives serve 30 million people in 46 states. 

ASSOCIATION MEETINGS NRECA's Annual Meeting is one of the largest national gatherings of cooperative and rural leaders and consumers. 

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS NRECA and its member cooperatives administer a program of technical advice and assistance in developing countries around the world. 

1997 RESOLUTIONS NRECA Statement of Purpose...

For more information, please e-mail us at nreca@nreca.org

THE BASICS NRECA's 1,000 member cooperatives serve 30 million people in 46 states. Most of the more than 900 distribution systems are consumer-owned cooperatives; some are public power districts. NRECA membership includes other organizations formed by these local utilities: 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. Associate membership is open to equipment manufacturers and distributors, wholesalers, consultants and other entities that do business with members of the electric cooperative network. 

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. 

Two major publications inform and educate members, decision makers and the interested public: Rural Electrification Magazine, published monthly, and Electric Co-op Today, a weekly newspaper that reports on activities and views about electric cooperatives and NRECA. 

ASSOCIATION MEETINGS NRECA's Annual Meeting is one of the largest national gatherings of cooperative and rural leaders and consumers, often attracting more than 12,000 directors, managers, employees, and co-op member-owners. In addition to considering and acting upon policy resolutions, delegates receive reports from association officials, hear addresses by key public figures, and attend panel sessions on major issues affecting cooperatives electric utilities and their consumer-owners. Concurrently, the TechAdvantage Conference and Expo provide participants with a close look at state-of-the-art products and equipment required in the day-to-day operation of electric utilities. 

The association holds a series of 10 regional meetings throughout the country each fall. At these meetings, electric cooperatives present their concerns and consider issues in an important step from the grassroots level in developing national policy and an action agenda for NRECA. Twelve national membership-elected standing committees are charged with screening and acting on resolutions to be brought before Annual Meeting delegates.

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS NRECA and its member cooperatives administer a program of technical advice and assistance in developing countries around the world. The original purpose of NRECA International Programs was to export America's model of rural electrification. Since 1962, 250 electric cooperatives have been formed in 14 developing countries. Today these utilities provide electric service to more than 34 million people. In addition, NRECA is currently working in 15 countries to provide technical and management assistance, create cooperatives and other decentralized utilities, administer training programs, and introduce renewable energy programs (wind, solar, hydropower and biomass). International Programs is a self-supporting division with funding from service contracts from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the World Bank, and overseas governments and cooperatives.