PREA - The Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association

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A Tradition of Service

By taking advantage of economies of scale, PREA is able to offer member cooperatives cost-effective services. As locally owned (electric cooperatives are owned by their customers) and locally controlled businesses, electric cooperatives play vital roles in maintaining the economic health of their rural communities - providing hundreds of jobs and contributing to the overall quality of life.

Headquartered in Pennsylvania's capital, Harrisburg, PREA serves as a resource center for member cooperatives. Political action in the state capital and in Washington, D.C. Our state and federal relations staff work closely with elected officials and regulatory bodies to ensure that the concerns of rural citizens are not overlooked in the legislative process. Directors, managers, employees, and individual consumer-members contribute to PREA's grassroots legislative efforts by participating in the Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE), the political action arm of the nation's electric cooperatives.

PREA also bolsters a number of economic development initiatives that benefits the rural economy. PREA works closely with member cooperatives, local community leaders, and the business sector to attract new businesses into rural areas or to help existing ones expand. To accomplish this, PREA works in conjunction with the federal Rural Business-Cooperative Service.

Because customers of an electric cooperative are also the owners, they have a vested interest in their utility. PREA assists in consumer educational efforts by publishing Penn Lines, a monthly, four-color newsmagazine focusing on rural issues. The magazine is also customized to each individual cooperative, so readers can stay attuned to their local cooperative's activities.

Member services, management, and employee training and safety instruction are also offered by PREA to cooperatives.

By working with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), based in Arlington, Va., PREA ensures that member cooperatives and their boards of directors stay abreast of the latest issues affecting the electric utility business. And safety courses offered by PREA's nationally recognized Risk Management Section makes sure cooperative employees can complete their jobs with the highest degree of safety.

PREA is governed by 14-member board of directors - one director from each member cooperative.