Advocating for co-op priorities

June 2025

Working hard to keep the lights on and energy affordable

When it comes to powering rural Oklahoma, our electric cooperatives are working hard to keep the lights on and energy affordable. But some of the work we do to empower your electric cooperative happens in Washington, D.C.

Your statewide association, the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OAEC), advocates on behalf of Oklahoma’s 27 distribution cooperatives and three generation and transmission cooperatives to ensure our voices are heard on Capitol Hill. The federal decisions made in D.C. have a direct impact on the cost and reliability of your electric service, and we take that responsibility seriously.

Here are a few key areas we are currently bringing to your legislative leaders:

• Protecting energy assistance for vulnerable
  Oklahomans
  The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps thousands of Oklahomans afford their energy bills during the hottest and coldest months of the year. Electric cooperatives across the state report millions in LIHEAP funds benefit members on co-op lines. That number is likely much higher statewide. These funds can be a lifeline for families and seniors living on fixed incomes, and we’re urging Congress to continue supporting this vital program.
• Investing in rural electric infrastructure
  Electric cooperatives depend on low-interest loans from the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to maintain and build the infrastructure that keeps your power reliable. These loans are paid back with interest and generate revenue for the federal government. We’re encouraging lawmakers to sign on to support full funding for this essential program.
• Ensuring fair and fast disaster recovery
  From ice storms to tornadoes, Oklahoma knows its share of disasters. Since 2018, our cooperatives have reported nearly $400 million in eligible storm damage. FEMA funding has helped us rebuild after these events and invest in stronger systems that are better prepared for the next one. When FEMA has the resources it needs, we can get your lights back on more quickly and build even more resilient systems.
• Streamlining permitting for energy projects
  Building and upgrading the infrastructure we need to serve our communities can require permitting. The federal permitting process can be slow, expensive and complex. We’re advocating for commonsense permitting reform that would allow us to bring more reliable energy to rural Oklahoma without the delays.

These priorities aren’t just about policy: They’re about people. The policies we advocate for are about you, your families and the places you call home. And as your cooperatives continue to serve you locally, we’ll keep working nationally to ensure rural Oklahoma is never left behind.