The electric industry is the place setting for some of the most important legislative and policy decisions impacting consumers here in Colorado and across the country. Those decisions directly impact the cost of power and the reliability of the grid — issues near and dear to co-op consumers. To protect the communities electric cooperatives serve, we must be at the table when those decisions are made. If we’re not at the table, as the axiom goes, we will be on the menu.
For decades, electric cooperatives have used political action committees (PACs) as one tool in their tool kit to ensure their voices are heard. These efforts have always been focused on supporting candidates who understand the unique role of co-ops, not those who are focused solely on partisan politics. In recent years, however, PACs at both the state and national levels have become less effective. Being effective matters, specifically because the stakes are so high. Policy decisions can have real impacts on your monthly bill, the pace of infrastructure investment, and even how your cooperative responds to challenges like wildfire risk.
Evaluating the CARE PAC and Colorado Energy Policy
In December 2025, cooperative leaders from across Colorado came together to discuss strategies for addressing the most significant policy issues facing Colorado’s electric co-ops, including wildfire liability reform. That discussion raised important questions about the effectiveness of the PAC formed by and for Colorado’s electric co-ops — Colorado Advocates for Rural Electrification, also known as CARE.
In response, CARE’s governing board commissioned a task force of cooperative leaders to take a hard look at how the CARE PAC operates and how we can show up better for each co-op member we represent. The group reviewed how CARE raises and invests resources and identified opportunities to improve its impact.
With that direction, CARE is adopting more focused strategies. This includes supporting candidates who understand electric co-ops and who are in positions to shape policy decisions. This also means concentrating on specific issues, like wildfire liability reform, rather than focusing on ideology or partisan politics.
Strengthening Rural Grid Reliability and Advocacy
At the same time, CARE will launch a coordinated engagement campaign focused on improving communication, transparency, and participation across the cooperative network. The goal is to ensure co-op members like you have clear and straightforward information about how CARE works and how this PAC supports policies and policymakers that have your best interests in mind.
No one can say with any certainty whether or not this approach will work. But it is a safe bet to say that if co-ops are not effectively engaged in the process, our influence on decisions that impact the affordability and reliability of electric service will not be as great.
A stronger, more strategic CARE means a stronger voice for you and your co-op. It can give us a seat at the table before decisions are made — and keep us off the menu.
Tom Walch is the executive director of the Colorado Rural Electric Association, the statewide organization supporting 21 electric distribution cooperatives and one generation and transmission cooperative.