History of Alaska Power Association
Electric cooperatives in Alaska joined together to form the Alaska Rural Electric Cooperative Association (ARECA) in 1952. Through the association's advocacy and by sharing their resources, cooperatives pioneered electricity service to many Alaska communities. Today, 90 percent of Alaskans receive their electricity from a consumer-owned cooperative.
In 1979, ARECA hired its first staff, an Executive Director, and began providing services that assist utility members with their goals of providing reliable service at the lowest reasonable cost.
ARECA's advocacy has helped to keep rates to consumers low and strengthen Alaska's energy systems. The Alaska Power Association (name changed in 2003) continues to advocate on behalf of the consumer-owner interests of its member utilities on current issues.
Today, the organization has 11 staff members who provide governmental representation, industry information, insurance, safety and training, and various other services to member utilities and Alaska Power Association's sister organizations, the ARECA Insurance Exchange, the ARECA Educational Foundation, the Alaska Rural Fuel Supply Corporation, the ARECA Training Council and the Alaska Systems Coordinating Council (ASCC).
Download "On the co-op frontier," Rural Electric Magazine, March 2008
Download The Northern Lights: A Brief History of Electric Cooperatives