We need your help to power your co-op

At the heart of every rural electric cooperative is a simple promise. Neighbors serving neighbors. That promise does not stop at the edge of a service territory. It also lives at the Capitol.

Legislative advocacy matters because the decisions made each year at the State Capitol shape how we deliver power to your homes, farms and businesses. Policies around rates, reliability, infrastructure and rural development are not abstract ideas. They affect how quickly we can restore power after storms, plan for growth and keep electricity affordable for the families and communities we serve.

Our cooperatives do not rely on expensive, high-dollar lobbying efforts to make our case. What we rely on is you. We rely on relationships built over time and honest conversations about what rural Oklahoma needs. We spend our time showing up, explaining the challenges of serving wide territories and low population density, and sharing the real stories that come from our members’ lives. When legislators hear directly from the people back home, it carries weight.

In the February issue of Oklahoma Living, you will find postcards placed right inside the magazine. Those cards are your chance to speak directly to your state senator and representative. Filling one out takes only a minute, but the impact reaches far beyond that moment. A handwritten note from a constituent is still one of the most meaningful forms of communication a lawmaker can receive.

I want to encourage you now to watch for those postcards next month. When you see them, take the time to sign your name and drop them in the mail. This is how rural Oklahoma is heard. This is how your cooperative strengthens its voice.

Thank you for being part of this effort.

By Nicki Fuller

General Manager | Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives