When electric cooperatives unite, our voice carries real weight in Washington, D.C. By working together, hundreds of co-ops from across the country amplify the needs of the communities they serve, and our unified voice echoes through the halls of Capitol Hill, encouraging legislators to consider the concerns and needs of co-ops and their members.

Our combined strength and unity bring leaders from co-ops around the country to Washington, D.C., each April for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Legislative Conference. This year, about 70 leaders from Ohio cooperatives joined nearly 2,000 colleagues from other states for the two-day conference. North Central Electric was represented well by Board Director Nick Wagner, other key staff members, and me.

The stakes are high.

Wholesale power supply represents the single highest cost for your cooperative, and federal regulations affect generation and transmission cooperatives’ ability to produce and transport the electricity needed to power your homes and the businesses we serve. That’s why it’s so important that we speak up about the ways in which federal policy directly influences how efficiently and cost-effectively co-ops like ours can make system improvements to provide reliable, cost-competitive energy to you.

During the legislative conference, we met with several congressional leaders and their staffs to discuss several key topics, which you can read more about on page 20 of this month’s Ohio Cooperative Living magazine. These personal connections matter. They help us protect our ability to serve you, both today and in the future. Your cooperative works hard to be a trusted source of information for our members, and we bring that same commitment to every conversation with lawmakers.

Generally, we get a good reception from Ohio’s elected officials when we talk to them. We’re familiar faces. They know we will be back every year, advocating on behalf of our members. Fortunately, our legislators like to hear what’s on the minds of our members. 

A special thank-you goes out to Sen. Bernie Moreno and Rep. Bob Latta, as well as staffers from the offices of representatives Max Miller, Marcy Kaptur, and David Joyce for taking the time to meet with our group while we were in Washington, D.C.

Each year, our attendance reminds legislators of the importance of electric co-ops and constituents in rural areas. Co-op voices translate directly to co-op voters. That’s why, although cooperatives aren’t necessarily the biggest voice in Washington, when we come together we speak with strength, purpose, and a clear focus on protecting the interests of our members.