We Are America’s Electric Cooperatives

NRECA is the national trade association that represents America’s nearly 900 local electric cooperatives. America’s electric cooperatives power the lives of 42 million people across 56% of the American landscape, from rural communities to growing suburbs. Co-ops are not-for-profit, member-owned utilities, guided by the people we serve and focused on delivering reliable, affordable electricity that strengthens local communities.

• 832 distribution cooperatives are the foundation of the electric cooperative network. Built by and belonging to their local communities, distribution co-ops are independent and democratically controlled and bring electricity to millions of American families and businesses primarily in underserved areas.
• 64 generation & transmission cooperatives generate or wholesale purchase power from a variety of other sources and deliver it to distribution co-ops for use in their local communities to ensure reliable, cost-effective supply.

NRECA works to advocate for electric co-op priorities in Washington and help ensure the long-term success of local co-ops and rural communities.

Our mission is rooted in a simple promise: keep the lights on at a cost families and businesses can afford.

Infographics: Co-op Facts & Figures

Electricity is essential to modern life. Electric cooperatives work every day to keep power flowing safely and reliably. As the demand for electricity skyrockets and technology evolves, this commitment to keeping the lights on has never been more important.

Electric cooperatives are committed to powering and empowering local communities at a cost families and businesses can afford.

INFOGRAPHICS: RELIABILITY 101

The energy landscape is evolving quickly. Demand is growing, technology is advancing, and consumer needs are evolving. As the industry navigates rapid demand growth, policy change, and supply chain pressures, co‑ops remain committed to delivering practical, cost‑effective solutions tailored to the communities they serve.

Electric cooperatives support smart energy policies that recognize these realities.

Smart energy policy includes:

• Faster disaster recovery for rural communities, including passage of the FEMA Act of 2025.
• Cutting through red tape by passing permitting reform, including the SPEED Act and PERMIT Act.
• Keeping reliable power plants online and realistic energy regulations.
• Protecting critical hydropower in the Pacific Northwest by preserving the Lower Snake River Dams.
• Smarter land management policies to mitigate wildfire risk, including the Fix Our Forests Act.
• Maintaining federal funding for grid innovation and investments.

Smart policy decisions today help ensure affordable, reliable power for decades to come.

Learn More: Reliability and Affordability

Local community oversight is a hallmark of electric cooperatives. Electric co-op boards are elected from and by the communities they serve, and our impact is national.

Across the country, co-ops:

• Keep the lights on in the communities they call home.
• Support economic development and job creation.
• Invest in broadband, infrastructure, and community services.
• Partner with policymakers to shape energy solutions that work in the real world.

By prioritizing reliability, affordability, and smart energy policy, electric cooperatives are helping power stronger communities.

America’s electric cooperatives are innovating to meet tomorrow’s energy needs. From utilizing AI to analyze data and respond to member needs to deploying drones for wildfire mitigation and mutual aid damage assessment, co-ops are transforming the electric sector. As we work to meet tomorrow’s energy needs, smart investment in the future of local communities is key.

Millions of rural American families and businesses are stuck on the wrong side of the digital divide. And where no one else will provide the service, electric co-ops have found a way. Motivated by people, not profits, and the needs of their communities, electric co-ops are making rural broadband a reality.