POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY
Individual political participation at all levels of government is important. When it comes to energy, there are a few ways for members and employees to make sure the interests of their co-op are represented. Four organizations that help members and employees get involved in politics are Rural Friends of Electric Cooperatives PAC, America’s Electric Coops PAC, Co-ops Vote and Voices for Cooperative Power.
Rural Friends of Electric Cooperatives PAC
Rural Friends of Electric Cooperatives is the nonpartisan political action committee that supports candidates at the state level seeking election to the Texas Legislature or statewide office. Rural Friends was formed in 1976 and operates under the guidance of a committee representing cooperatives from across the state and is subject to all state campaign finance laws and reporting requirements.
The membership consists of co-op members and employees who help defend their local electric cooperative by fighting for the rules and regulations being passed that take into consideration the unique features of electric coop, their members and the communities they serve.
Rural Friends supports people who fight to preserve local co-ops, oppose drastic regulation that threatens reliability, raises rates and harms local economies, understand the co-ops’ role in the community and will fight for the best interest of co-ops and their members.
All consumer-members and employees are eligible to join whether they are salaried employees or not. In addition, spouses and immediate family of eligible members are also able to join.
Contributions to Rural Friends go to support state office candidates. Decisions to support a candidate or incumbent are made on the basis of that individual’s record on rural electrification, not on the basis of political party. In Texas, both Democrat and Republican candidates are supported.
Aside from raising money, Rural Friends is a grassroots effort that encourages political participation at the local level. Members of Rural Friends encourage others to get to know their local elected officials and attend town hall meetings, fund-raisers and legislative days.
The PAC belongs to its members just like electric cooperatives belong to their members, and as of January 2024, United Cooperative Services has 100 percent participation from its employees. Other contributors include board members, spouses and members enrolled in the Rural Friends PAC with all eligible Rural friends’ members also enrolled in America's Electric Cooperatives PAC.
Rural friends PAC contributions are due annually. Membership levels are $25 regular, $50, $100 Century Club, $150 Century Club Plus, $250 Vice Presidents Club, $500 Presidents Club, $1,000 Leadership Circle.
In addition to contributing to the health of the co-op, members receive quarterly newsletters with the ‘scoop’ on candidates, important legislative races and other key political news.
To learn more about Rural Friends visit Co-op Advocacy | Texas Electric Cooperatives (texas-ec.org)
America's Electric Cooperatives PAC
America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC, formerly known as ACRE®, is the non-partisan federal political action committee (PAC) of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The PAC supports political candidates who will speak for and protect the interests of electric co-ops and the communities they serve. Backed by over 31,000 individuals making an average contribution of $65, the PAC is truly grassroots.
Membership in the PAC is open to consumer-members, as well as co-op directors and salaried co-op employees with policymaking, managerial, professional or supervisory responsibilities who are employed by an electric co-op belonging to NRECA. Spouses and the immediate family of eligible individuals are also eligible to join.
America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC makes monetary contributions to candidates for federal office who have demonstrated support for electric cooperatives. Contributions to federal candidates are made based on the candidate’s support for rural electrification, not on the basis of political party.
The PAC is non-partisan, and both Democrat and Republican candidates are supported. It is subject to all state and federal campaign finance laws and reporting requirements.
America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC raises voluntary contributions from NRECA’s eligible membership. Regular membership dues are $25 per year. While members are not required to contribute, they can donate any amount up to $5,000 a year or contribute based on the recognized membership levels. The recognized membership levels are as follows; Century Club dues are $100 per year, Vice Presidents Club is $250 a year, Presidents Club is $500 per year and Leadership Circle is $1000 per year.
America's Electric Cooperatives PAC online donation information can be found here.
For more information on who is eligible to join America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC, go to: America's Electric Cooperatives Pac
Co-ops Vote
Co-ops Vote is a non-partisan project of America's Electric Cooperatives. Developed in 2016 in response to declining rural voter turnout, Co-ops Vote is designed to inform its members on the key issues facing electric co-ops and encourage them to vote and support their co-ops and the communities they serve when they go to the polls.
The project encourages co-op voters to be an active voice in their communities, keeping important rural issues in mind when they go to the polls. It encourages voters to support candidates that support policies to modernize our nation’s energy supply while maintaining affordability and reliability.
Co-ops Vote does not endorse or recommend any candidates for election. Its website is available to anyone curious about co-op issues. It also provides helpful voting information and tools, such as voter registration, candidate details and political events that pertain to co-ops.
Co-ops Vote does not accept donations or dues of any kind. It is simply a program focused on enhancing the political strength of electric cooperatives through relationship building and voter engagement.
To learn more about Co-ops vote, visit Co-ops Vote.
Voices for Cooperative Power
Voices for Cooperative Power is a network of electric co-op members working together to influence state elected officials who are making energy policy decisions that impact co-ops on the state and federal level. Members come together to communicate their perspective and aim to protect co-ops’ ability to deliver affordable, reliable services.
VCP gives members a platform to talk about the ways electric co-ops support the communities they serve. Co-op members are able to submit their story of how co-ops, and energy policy affect them to be shared on social media platforms and with elected officials.
To learn more about Voices for Cooperative Power, visit Voices for Cooperative Power.
Residential members of United Cooperative Services may become members of Rural Friends of Electric Cooperatives and/or Americas Electric Cooperatives PACs by contacting Melissa Seabourn at (254) 918-6125.
*Disclaimer: Contributions to the NRECA America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Contributions to America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC are voluntary and will be used for political purposes. You have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal. Federal law prohibits contributions from foreign nationals who lack permanent resident status. Any contribution guidelines presented are merely suggestions. You are free to contribute more or less than the suggested amounts, or not at all. NRECA will not favor or disadvantage anyone by reason of the amount contributed or a decision not to contribute.