When we speak together, lawmakers listen

At Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives, our mission has always been about more than providing reliable, affordable power. It’s about our members and ensuring your voice is heard in the decisions that shape our communities and our energy future.

That’s where advocacy comes in. Whether it’s streamlining federal processes, improving disaster recovery programs or planning for growing energy needs, the policies discussed at our state Capitol and Washington, D.C. affect your cooperative directly. And when we speak up together, policymakers listen.

Just last month, a small group of cooperative leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers about issues that matter to rural Oklahoma. One of those conversations led to an exciting step forward:

Sen. James Lankford’s office is now exploring ways to improve FEMA. This could mean beneficial changes to how FEMA supports our communities after storms. This is just one example of subject matter interest sparked by cooperative advocacy. This is the power of one voice joined with many.

Within the pages of Oklahoma Living, our goal is to help strengthen that connection, to keep you informed about what’s happening across the state, to highlight the good work of your cooperative and to inspire engagement when your voice can make a difference. Next year, we will add a new regular feature, “Capitol Connections,” to help empower you as a co-op member.

That’s also why I encourage you to sign up for Voices for Cooperative Power (VCP), a grassroots network that connects cooperative members like you with the issues that matter most. It’s free, quick to join and ensures you’ll know when your voice is needed. Visit
voicesforcooperativepower.com to learn more.

Your cooperative exists because of you. Together, we have the strength, the stories and the shared purpose to make sure Oklahoma’s rural communities continue to thrive for generations to come.

By Nicki Fuller

General Manager | Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives