Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives

POWERING LIVES & EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES

Our Mission

IAEC serves, supports and advocates for our members by providing expertise and collaborative leadership.

Our Vision

IAEC works to unify and strengthen the voice of our member cooperatives in an evolving industry through leadership, integrity and expertise centered around the cooperative principles. We are committed to serving our members as they strive to provide safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity for their member-consumers.

Our Values

Integrity
We build relationships based on trust and honesty.

Leadership
We work as a unified team and lead by example.

Excellence
Our work is performed with excellence and empowered through innovation.

Service
We aim to support our members with superior service in a timely manner.

By the Numbers

$688 MILLION

Wages and salaries paid by Iowa electric co-ops in the past 5 years

$29 MILLION

State and local taxes paid annually by Iowa electric cooperatives

$300 MILLION

Retired capital credits returned to Iowa electric co-op members

$4.7 BILLION

5-year economic development impact of Iowa's electric co-ops

Locally Governed

Purpose

Owned by the members they serve, locally governed electric cooperatives power the lives of 650,000 Iowans throughout all 99 counties every day. Co-ops are committed to delivering power that is safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable while also investing in rural economic development.

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Services
1

Benefits

The employee benefits department manages the IAEC Health Care Plan and the plans sponsored by the Hawkeye Insurance Association (HIA). The department also provides human resources and payroll services for IAEC staff.

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2

Communications

The communications department is responsible for public relations, digital communications, IAEC's member directory and for providing support to our member cooperatives. The department also publishes Iowa Electric Cooperative Living magazine each month.

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3

Education & Training

Our education and training department identifies needs and organizes training and educational opportunities for the employees and directors of Iowa's electric cooperatives. Each year, IAEC offers more than 50 educational and training events.

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4

Policy & Advocacy

IAEC's policy & advocacy team manages issues and relationships involving Iowa's policymakers and elected officials. The department also handles legislative affairs at the state and federal levels and organizes grassroots efforts through Iowa Rural Power.

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5

Safety & Loss Control

Our safety & loss control department conducts safety training, general work procedures training and accident investigations for our members. IAEC's safety team also administers the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP) to promote a proactive safety culture and coordinates mutual aid requests.

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Resources
For Homeowners

Solar Resources

Iowa's electric cooperatives are committed to helping their member-owners use energy wisely. If you're considering a solar generation system, do your homework and contact your local electric co-op early in the process for information you can trust.

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Questions
1
1
What is an electric cooperative?

Electric cooperatives are local power providers, owned by the member-consumers they serve. Each electric co-op is governed by an elected board of directors who are members of the co-op. When the local board determines it is financially feasible, excess co-op margins are returned to the members over time as retired capital credits. Due to their organizational structure, electric cooperatives are accountable and accessible utility organizations that also support their local communities and invest in economic development efforts to improve quality of life. Iowa's electric cooperatives are committed to providing power that is safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable.

2
2
What are the governing values of electric cooperatives?

Every electric cooperative is governed by a local board of directors, who must be members of the co-op and are elected by members of the co-op. Additionally, electric co-ops adhere to the 7 Cooperative Principles:

1. Voluntary and open membership
2. Democratic member control
3. Members' economic participation
4. Autonomy and independence
5. Education, training and information
6. Cooperation among cooperatives
7. Concern for community

3
3
How did electric cooperatives get started?

Back in the 1930s, there was an electric divide in America. 90% of town and city dwellers had access to electricity while 90% of rural citizens were left in the dark. The investor-owned utilities at that time saw no profit in serving sparsely populated areas. President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) in 1935 as part of the New Deal and the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 provided official status to the REA as a lending agency to serve rural areas. With low-interest financing in place, REA representatives helped rural citizens band together to form not-for-profit electric cooperatives for access to safe, reliable and affordable power. Most of Iowa's electric cooperatives were formed in the 1930s and 40s as a result of this effort.

4
4
How many Iowans are served by electric cooperatives?

Electric co-ops power the lives of 650,000 Iowans throughout all 99 counties every day, representing about 15% of the state's population. Electric co-ops serve primarily rural areas and we cover more than two-thirds of Iowa's land mass. We maintain about 62,000 miles of power lines, which is enough to wrap around the equator 2.5 times!

5
5
Do not-for-profit electric cooperatives pay taxes in Iowa?

Yes - collectively, Iowa's electric cooperatives pay almost $29 million in local and state taxes each year. These taxes help fund local emergency services, road maintenance projects, healthcare services and schools throughout rural Iowa.

News

October 07, 2024

Moon returns to IAEC as new senior manager of policy & advocacy

As IAEC moves forward with our new policy & advocacy department, we...
Read More about Moon returns to IAEC as new senior manager of policy & advocacy
Read More about Moon returns to IAEC as new senior manager of policy & advocacy

October 04, 2024

12 Iowa electric co-ops send crews and equipment to South Carolina following Hur...

Hurricane Helene knocked out power to an estimated 1.25 million co-op members...
Read More about 12 Iowa electric co-ops send crews and equipment to South Carolina following Hurricane Helene
Read More about 12 Iowa electric co-ops send crews and equipment to South Carolina following Hurricane Helene

October 01, 2024

Gov. Reynolds declares October as Co-op Month in Iowa

Governor Kim Reynolds recently signed a proclamation declaring October as “Co-Op Month...
Read More about Gov. Reynolds declares October as Co-op Month in Iowa
Read More about Gov. Reynolds declares October as Co-op Month in Iowa
Job Openings

Cooperative Careers

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community and serving members? Iowa's electric cooperatives are always seeking talented and dedicated people to embrace our mission of powering lives and empowering communities. Electric co-ops offer dependable careers with competitive wages and quality benefits in an exciting industry. 

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