The electric industry faces new challenges in today's political environment. ECI REC's employees and Board of Directors, as well as other cooperatives, work to make sure the voices of electric cooperative members are heard as policies are developed.
We do this through groups such as the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives' Grassroots Advocacy Program. This helps us establish relationships with influential people in local, state, and federal government, as well as the media.
We cannot use Cooperative funds to contribute to the campaigns of the elected officials who best represent our interests. Instead, we encourage our members to support two political action committees:
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The Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE®) - a national organization supporting federal candidates
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Friends of Rural Electrification (FORE) - Iowa candidates
Candidates who receive support from ACRE and FORE know ECI REC members and employees who support them want legislators who make good policy decisions on their behalf.