East-Central Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative became a reality in 1995, born from two independent county electric cooperatives. Before consolidation these cooperatives, Buchanan County Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) and Benton County Electric Cooperative Association (ECA), had operated separately for nearly 60 years. ECI REC is a locally owned and operated electric distribution cooperative serving more than 9,160 member accounts.
ECI REC operates and maintains over 2,295 miles of electric lines throughout 11 counties: Benton, Buchanan, Fayette, Bremer, Black Hawk, Linn, Delaware, Clayton, Tama, Iowa, Johnson.
To efficiently serve the membership, ECI REC’s line crews are based out of two operation centers–one in Vinton and the other in Independence. The Cooperative's administrative headquarters is in Urbana. ECI REC employs 34 people.
Our Mission Is
To demonstrate the advantages of your member-owned Cooperative.
Our Vision Is
To make a difference in the lives of those we serve.
Members Have a Voice
As a cooperative, ECI REC is owned jointly and controlled equally by those we serve. ECI REC is a business enterprise more interested in providing reliable service to our member-consumers than in making money.
Our member-consumers share in the governance and ownership of the Cooperative and can vote on proposals and choose representatives to sit on the Board of Directors.