The Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA) is the nation's first statewide trade association for electric cooperatives. Officially organized on April 30, 1936, WECA has spent more than 90 years supporting Wisconsin's electric cooperatives and the communities they serve.
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide leadership and professional services to support electric cooperative efforts to improve the quality of life for their members.
VISION STATEMENT
WECA will serve its members by providing leadership on key legislative and regulatory issues, fostering a positive image of electric cooperatives, and supporting quality of life in communities through education and training services.
A Legacy Rooted in Rural Electrification
The story of WECA begins during the Great Depression when much of rural America remained without access to electricity. Recognizing the importance of electric service to agricultural productivity and quality of life, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) on May 11, 1935. Through a program of low-interest loans, REA made it possible for rural communities to build electric systems that investor-owned utilities had been unwilling or unable to serve.
The cooperative business model quickly emerged as the ideal solution. Organized and governed by the people they served, nonprofit electric cooperatives enabled rural residents to bring electricity to their homes, farms, and businesses. In 1936, the Rural Electrification Act, authored by Senator George Norris and Representative Sam Rayburn, strengthened these efforts by providing federal loan opportunities and preference to nonprofit organizations.
The work of organizing Wisconsin's electric cooperatives fell largely to dedicated local leaders and volunteers who rallied community support, enrolled members, and helped build the first distribution systems. Their efforts paid off on May 7, 1937, when Richland Electric Cooperative energized its first lines, bringing electric service to rural Wisconsin communities. By 1945, all of Wisconsin's electric cooperatives had been established.
WECA's Evolution
Founded during the earliest days of rural electrification, WECA has evolved alongside Wisconsin's electric cooperatives. Over the decades, the association provided a variety of services to meet the changing needs of its members.
Historically, WECA maintained an engineering department that assisted in the construction of rural electric distribution systems. It also provided insurance services and supplied appliances, electrical materials, and equipment to member cooperatives. Over time, these functions grew into successful standalone cooperative enterprises, many of which owe their origins to WECA's leadership and support.
Wisconsin's electric cooperatives became leaders in innovation, achieving numerous milestones including the creation of the nation's first statewide association for rural electric cooperatives, the nation's first statewide cooperative publication, a premier generation and transmission cooperative, a nationally recognized insurance company, and one of the first cooperative organizations dedicated to supplying line materials and equipment.
Serving Wisconsin's Electric Cooperatives Today
Today, WECA focuses on four core areas of service:
- Government advocacy and legislative representation
- Safety and regulatory services
- Education and professional development
- Communications and member engagement
WECA serves as the collective voice of Wisconsin's electric cooperatives before state and federal policymakers, helping shape legislation and regulations that affect cooperatives and their member-owners. The association also provides training, governance education, and leadership development opportunities for directors, managers, and employees.
Through publications, digital communications, events, and outreach initiatives, WECA keeps cooperative leaders informed about industry developments and emerging issues while promoting the cooperative difference to members and communities across the state.
The Cooperative Impact Today
Electric cooperatives continue to play a vital role in rural America. Nationally, more than 42 million people receive electric service from approximately 930 electric cooperative systems. In Wisconsin, electric cooperatives provide reliable electric service to nearly 600,000 consumers across vast rural service territories.
The success of electric cooperatives has always been driven by the engagement and leadership of the members they serve. From the volunteers who launched Wisconsin's first cooperatives to today's elected directors, employees, and member-owners, generations of cooperative leaders have strengthened their communities and improved quality of life throughout rural Wisconsin.
As the needs of communities continue to evolve, WECA remains committed to supporting Wisconsin's electric cooperatives and advancing the cooperative principles that have guided the industry since its beginning.