The Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) exists to serve its 15 member-owned electric cooperatives: 13 in Virginia, one in Maryland, and one in Delaware. These member cooperatives serve more than 2 million people in these three states. Because electric cooperatives are consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities, the Association is the largest consumer organization in each of the three states. Each of member system is represented by two directors on the Association’s board. The Board establishes policy and provides direction with quarterly board meetings held in January, April, July, and October. Board committees are used to provide planning and direction for the Association’s departments. Association staff provide services that can best be performed as a group effort on a state or regional basis, and generally fall into one of five work groups: the Executive Department; the Communications and Publications Department; the Educational Services Department; the Governmental Affairs Department; and the Safety & Training Services Department. The Association’s role in providing key legislative, marketing, communications and training support has increased substantially in recent years, as state and federal legislators have enacted sweeping legislation affecting the electric utility industry.