WORKING WITH OUR LEGISLATORS
Beltrami Electric Cooperative and other electric cooperatives throughout the U.S. are continually working with local, state and U.S. representatives and senators to ensure affordable energy costs for the future. Beltrami Electric does not choose particular political parties, but instead works to educate all legislators on the possible effects particular bills can have on their constituents.
Keeping electric rates affordable and ensuring reliable electricity are big concerns of the membership and are why Beltrami Electric gets involved with the political process. Your cooperative works on behalf of the membership to ensure legislation includes affordability.
Keep up-to-date with our legislative and grassroots efforts on both the state and federal levels. We continue to work hard for our members and issues that affect the cooperative. "Grassroots" has an electric co-op definition, one that reflects its importance in the industry. "Grassroots" refers to electric cooperative activists - directors, managers, employees and member-owners - who take an active role in the political process to protect their co-op from harmful legislation and regulation, as well as to promote the value of co-op ownership to their legislators.
Legislative Resources
Political action committees (or PACs) are an easy way for cooperative members to become involved in the political process. PACs allow ordinary citizens to pool their small contributions to make a meaningful donation to legislative candidates who support their point of view. That is precisely what our federal America's Electric Cooperatives PAC and Minnesota's Rural Electric Political Action Committee (REPAC) do.
PAC and REPAC allow electric co-op directors, managers, employees, and members to more actively participate in the legislative process. They allow us to join together to make our voice strong on electric utility issues. Without regard to party affiliation, our PACs make contributions to legislative candidates who show an interest in electric co-op's legislative positions. America's Electric Cooperatives PAC and REPAC promote the improvement of government by encouraging electric co-ops to take a more active and effective part in government affairs. PAC and REPAC, in conjunction with our national and state grassroots efforts, encourage electric co-ops to know and understand the nature and actions of their government, the critical political issue, and legislative records.
To learn more about these resources, click on each of their names below.
As a member-owner of Beltrami Electric Cooperative, you are among 42 million Americans who can claim ownership in a not-for-profit member-controlled utility that provides electricity at cost. It's a fact, whether we like it or not, decisions made in Washington, D.C. and at our state capitals impact us from how much we pay for electricity to what benefits we provide our employees. That's why it is so important to elect and re-elect people who understand the concerns of America's electric cooperatives.
About America’s Electric Cooperatives
Founded in 1966, America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC (formerly ACRE®) is the federal political action committee (PAC) of the nation’s electric co-ops. NRECA’s PAC supports political candidates who will speak for and protect the interests of electric co-ops and their consumer-owners. Backed by over 35,000 individuals making an average contribution of $65, the PAC is truly grassroots.
The Rural Electric Political Action Committee (REPAC) is the state level equivalent of ACRE that helps Minnesota cooperative members pool resources to support candidates who will speak for and protect the interests of electric cooperatives and their member-owners.
The funds are contributed to Minnesota State House and Senate candidates seeking public office. Contributions assist campaigns of Minnesota state legislators who protect electric co-ops’ interests and acquaint metropolitan legislators with the vitality of electric cooperatives. Visit MREA.org to learn more.
MREA's Government Affairs provides information about the legislative issues Minnesota rural electric cooperatives are facing at both the state and federal levels of government.
Visit www.mrea.org to learn more.