BY JIM MILLER
By the time you read this column, the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC) will have held its 2025 Annual Meeting in West Des Moines with the theme of “Leading through Change.” And that’s the perfect phrase to describe my first year serving as IAEC board president.
Growing connections
I’ve been reflecting on what the trade association for Iowa’s locally owned and governed electric co-ops has accomplished in 2025, and we worked hard to engage with our member co-ops on new levels. For example, Leslie Kaufman, IAEC executive vice president and general manager, made it a priority to attend Iowa electric co-op board meetings and staff safety meetings across the state during her first year on the job. During these visits, she learned about our members’ priorities and challenges as our industry experiences rapid change.
Coordinated advocacy, united voice
I’m proud of how the statewide association engaged with our member co-ops during the 2025 Iowa Legislative Session as we advocated to safeguard electric service territory protections for the rural families, farms, businesses and communities we serve. We’re seeing more co-op board directors and co-op staff engage with their local legislators and other community leaders on this issue, and we were successful in changing the direction of proposed legislation that would have diminished Iowa’s long-standing service territory law.
When session ended in May, the statewide policy and advocacy team rolled up their sleeves and developed a framework tool. It includes member input to analyze and define our statewide position on policy issues and aid in prioritizing resources to accomplish advocacy objectives. This tool will help our statewide staff work proactively on behalf of Iowa’s electric cooperatives as we lead through change.
We have built incredible momentum in 2025 that will propel us to the start of the 2026 Legislative Session next month. We anticipate another active session of challenges to the proven cooperative business model of self-governance and member ownership. IAEC will continue to unify and leverage the voices of board directors, employees and other member-consumers of Iowa’s electric cooperatives to advocate for safe, affordable, reliable and sustainable power. We embrace leadership from all levels of our membership as we work with key stakeholders on local, state and federal tiers.
A focus on co-op members
Now is the time to lead through change, and we will have ample opportunities to do so in the electric utility industry. It all points back to our electric cooperative purpose and our collective mission: to power lives and empower communities. Because electric co-ops are owned by the members we serve, our focus is always on you.
It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your statewide board president this year. I wish you and your family a blessed holiday season and a prosperous 2026.
Jim Miller is the board president of the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives.
