WRECA: From Its Historic Roots to Modern Advocacy
In 1935, about 90% of rural farms and communities in America were without electricity because investor-owned utilities (IOUs) saw little profit in serving these areas. In response, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) through executive order, and in 1936, signed the Rural Electrification Act, transforming the REA into a lending agency. The Act authorized self-liquidating loans for financing the construction and operation of electric generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure in rural areas. When IOUs still would not provide service, farm communities nationwide utilized REA financing and adapted the cooperative business model to bring electricity to their communities.
At the same time, the federal government was building hydroelectric projects, prioritizing consumer-owned, nonprofit utilities, like electric cooperatives. This allowed affordable and dependable power to reach rural America, fulfilling a critical need.
The Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association (WRECA), founded in 1942, provides a unified voice for the state’s mutual electric companies and rural electric cooperatives. WRECA actively engages in state legislative matters, develops strategic alliances, and serves as a liaison for national rural electric cooperative interests, ensuring that the cooperative model remains a vital part of Washington’s energy landscape.