Cooservunal Competitors

The Nebraska Rural Electric Association (NREA) is the private non-profit trade association for 34 rural electric systems that provide electric service to consumers in most of the rural areas and many of the small towns in the great State of Nebraska. Together, the more than 1,000 dedicated employees of our member-systems serve over 249,000 meters across more than 87,700 miles of line. In the 1930s, rural leaders took on the enormous task of building the electric utility infrastructure in Nebraska that would provide themselves and their neighbors with reliable and affordable electricity. The Rural Electrification Administration (REA) was created by executive order of President Roosevelt on May 11, 1935 and NREA was formed in October of that year to help these early leaders deal with problems of standardizing line construction and obtaining wholesale power supplies. Over the years, NREA's mission has evolved to include a broad range of activities to assist our member-systems as they face the many challenges of providing low-cost, reliable electric service to the rural regions of Nebraska. Today, the quality of electric service in the most remote areas of the state equals or exceeds the electric service available in our largest communities. This achievement continues to be a source of pride for the directors, managers, and other employees of our member-systems. This accomplishment has not been without its challenges, and as we work through the 21st century and the challenges posed by rising wholesale power costs and possible climate change legislation, we will face many new technical, economic and political challenges in the future. Nebraska's rural electric leaders will meet these challenges and will continue to be guided by their customer's desire for reliable, high-quality electric service at affordable rates. We are confident that Nebraskans will continue to see the value in maintaining their locally-owned, controlled, and operated rural public power districts and electric cooperatives.

More than 1.2 million Kentucky residents and thousands of businesses depend on East Kentucky Power Cooperative for reliable, affordable energy every day. Based just minutes from Lexington, Ky., EKPC generates and transmits the energy to 89 counties. As a not-for-profit cooperative, we are focused on serving 16 electric cooperatives by providing reliable energy every moment of every day, at affordable rates. EKPC generates electricity at traditional coal and natural gas power plants, as well as a 60-acre solar-energy farm and innovative plants fueled by methane from landfills. EKPC delivers energy over 2,800 miles of high-voltage transmission facilities, which we own and maintain. EKPC also works closely with 16 electric cooperatives to offer energy efficiency and demand-side management options to help members manage their local bills. And we work with our co-ops to ensure vibrant local economies by working to bring jobs and investment to Kentucky. EKPC is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans

Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. is owned by and provides wholesale power to six regional and 51 local electric cooperative systems in Missouri, northeast Oklahoma and southeast Iowa that serve more than 900,000 customers. AECI is a cooperative guided by the seven cooperative principles that reflect the best interests of members: voluntary and open membership; education, training and information; democratic member control; cooperation among cooperatives; members' economic participation; concern for community; autonomy and independence.