MECA uses a network of technical experts to monitor legislation in the Michigan House and Senate. We provide prompt alerts to MECA member co-ops on items of potential interest or concern, and deliver in-depth analysis and response for key issues impacting our members.

MECA and its member co-ops benefit from robust legal counsel provided by the Dykema Energy Industry Group. Dykema has been an energy industry thought leader for decades, and their dynamic team of experienced attorneys are available to advise MECA member co-ops on a full array of regulatory, corporate, and transactional matters.

Michigan House Bill 4266 makes it possible for electric co-ops to provide fiberoptic internet service within existing electric easements without fear of lawsuit.

The SECURE Act pension legislation lowers electric co-op premiums paid to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) by more than $30 million per year year nationally, and nearly $1 million annually for Michigan electric co-ops.

Traditional on-site meetings are a foundational element of workplace safety practices. Participating co-ops receive up to 10 onsite safety meetings each year, delivered by our Certified Loss Control Professional (CLCP) instructors. Co-op employees learn how to avoid accidents, injury and illness, combat complacency, and take appropriate corrective actions.

Unannounced, on-site crew observations provide participating co-op leadership with valuable information on employee safe work practices in the field. Positive, productive reporting includes recommendations to help supervisors correct any unsafe work habits.

The Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP) promotes the highest safety standards among electric co-ops. MECA coordinates 4-person teams to conduct the required multi-day, on-site RESAP observation for participating co-ops. Using identified safety criteria, the team provides an honest assessment to improve safety performance and culture.

Participating co-ops benefit from a statewide mutual aid partnership that is unmatched in the industry, including 10 co-ops, nearly 20 municipalities, a growing number of investor-owned utilities, and access to a wider national network. These relationships enable faster outage restoration and greater cost savings for affected co-ops.

MECA collaborates with each member co-op to produce and mail up to 10 editions of the award-winning Michigan Country Lines magazine each year. Our network of professional writers and photographers produce exclusive co-op content designed to keep member consumers informed and engaged. Michigan Country Lines magazine has been a cost-effective co-op communication for over 30 years.

MECA helps member co-ops meet their marketing and communications goals by promoting co-op programs and services on the most popular digital platforms. Our team is Google Ads certified to help you target messages to co-op members that are most likely to respond, based on geography, demographics, personal interests and recent online activity.

Every MECA member co-op is entitled to two voting representatives on the Board of Directors. MECA board meetings are where this group makes important policy decisions that affect all Michigan co-ops, share information among their peers, and receive co-op issue updates and special presentations.

MECA works with its member co-ops to identify and deliver in-demand employee training. Last year, MECA delivered professional development opportunities to over 100 member co-op employees. In-state training is a cost-effective, flexible and and efficient way to provide co-op employees with the knowledge and skills they need to support their co-op mission.

MECA hosts monthly conference calls and two in-person conferences each year for member co-op communications professionals. Participants learn from outside experts and share their collective ideas, tools and strategies during roundtable discussions.