At GVEC, we’re committed to delivering reliable and affordable services to our members. Much of that work happens locally through system improvements, outage response and routine maintenance. But it’s also important to recognize that many factors affecting our service are influenced by decisions made at the state level during each Texas legislative session.
The 89th Texas Legislature met this year, and as with every session, we closely monitor House and Senate bills that could impact the services the Cooperative provides to our members. Fortunately, we don’t do it alone; we work closely with Texas Electric Cooperatives (TEC) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), which are strong advocates for rural communities and understand the challenges we face. A key part of this advocacy is Voices for Cooperative Power, a grassroots initiative designed to empower cooperative members, like you, to speak directly to elected officials about issues that affect your energy future.
As we follow energy policy, it’s crucial that your voices are heard and amplify the perspectives of electric cooperative members. Voices for Cooperative Power (VCP) makes this possible by allowing members to participate in the policymaking process and express their views on issues impacting their communities. Whether it’s advocating for reliable and affordable energy, supporting rural development or promoting environmental stewardship, VCP ensures that the unique needs and priorities of cooperative members are represented.
Your involvement in VCP truly makes a difference. This past legislative session, the collective voices of co-op members, including many from GVEC, helped influence the outcome of several proposed bills. One key example was a pole attachment bill that ultimately did not pass—an outcome which aligned with the best interests of GVEC and our membership. It’s a powerful reminder that when cooperative communities speak up, policymakers listen.
We also tracked several other bills with potential impacts on GVEC’s system planning and operations. Although this session has concluded, our engagement through VCP remains essential regarding these and future policy discussions. By joining VCP, you can stay informed about key policy developments, share your personal experiences with lawmakers and take quick, easy action with direct communication to your state representatives.
I encourage you to visit voicesforcooperativepower.com and sign up for updates on future legislative initiatives. By taking action, you help ensure that the interests of GVEC members and rural communities across the country stay at the forefront in energy policy decisions. Your support is vital to preserving the local control and affordability that electric cooperatives have proudly delivered to their members for generations.
