American families and businesses count on reliable electricity at a price they can afford. But, with the demand for power continuing to climb and the supply of always-available power sources at risk, smart energy policies are more important than ever.
Your electric cooperative’s job goes beyond keeping the lights on day to day. It is also responsible for advocating on behalf of its members in Washington, D.C., to make sure decisions being made at the federal level protect reliable, affordable power in your local community.
In 2026, America’s electric cooperatives are focused on a few key issues that directly impact co-op members.
Faster disaster recovery
Electric co-ops support the bipartisan FEMA Act of 2025. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a critical partner in helping electric co-ops restore power and rebuild their systems in the wake of natural disasters, but it could be more effective and responsive to the needs of rural America. If the FEMA Act passes, it will help utilities restore power more quickly after storms and disasters — while keeping costs lower for rural families and businesses.
Cutting through red tape
Outdated and overly complex permitting rules slow down essential upgrades to power lines and substations. Streamlining these processes helps co-ops keep up with growing demand and improve reliability. Congress must pass comprehensive permitting reforms, including the SPEED Act and PERMIT Act, both of which cleared the House in December.
Keeping reliable power plants online
Co-ops advocate for realistic energy regulations that don’t force dependable power plants to shut down before reliable replacements are ready. Mandating emissions limits based on unavailable technology would force critical power plants off the grid and restrict the operation of new natural gas plants.
Smarter land management policies
Co-ops advocate for smarter land-management policies like the Fix Our Forests Act that would allow co-ops to better maintain power lines on public lands and mitigate wildfire risk.
Maintaining funding for grid investments
Federal loan and grant programs help co-ops strengthen the grid, prepare for extreme weather, improve cybersecurity and explore new energy technologies — without shifting costs to members.
Postal rates and reliability
Electric co-ops rely on mail for a variety of important communications, including sending bills to consumer-members and distributing co-op magazines in 42 states. Co-op mail contains critical information for members, such as notices of annual meetings and director elections, information on how to wisely use energy and participate in co-op programs, and planned maintenance that may impact electric service.
While you may not consider it on a daily basis, electricity is essential and underpins nearly every aspect of modern life. Understanding today’s evolving energy landscape is important as it shapes how electricity is produced, delivered and consumed.
Advocating on behalf of members is a critical part of the cooperative mission. These policy priorities all come back to the same goal: making sure members have safe, reliable and affordable power — now and in the future.
If you would like to get involved, join Voices for Cooperative Power by visiting aiec.coop/iclvcp. Your participation strengthens the collective voice of co-op members throughout Illinois and across the nation.
