As the Alabama Legislature prepares to begin its 2026 session, Alabama Living askedย Alabama Rural Electric Association Chief Operating Officer Sean Strickler, who has worked in governmental relations for more than 30 years, to talk about why itโs vital that our cooperatives have a voice at the State House.
Why is it important for our electric cooperatives to be represented by AREA at the Alabama State House?
Electric cooperatives need a strong, unified voice at the Alabama State House because the decisions made there directly impact how co-ops operate and how we serve our members. Legislators deal with issues involving energy policy, taxes, infrastructure, broadband, workforce development, and regulations that affect every co-op in the state.
When it comes to energy policy, we are in unprecedented times, especially with exploding capacity demands because of growth and the proliferation of data centers throughout our region. Because of these real and potential demands on the grid, we are seeing legislation around the country with both positive and negative effects on electric cooperatives. We are tasked to make sure our members continue to have reliable and affordable electricity.
Simply put, without active representation, policy decisions could be made about us instead of with us. As Tom Stackhouse, the CEO of Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, so eloquently states: โIf you are not at the table, you are usually on the menu.โ
Whatโs a typical day like when youโre at the State House?
The saying I love to use while explaining what a typical day at the State House for me is 45 minutes of boredom surrounded by 15 minutes of sheer panic. Being at the State House is a mix of policy work, relationship-building, problem-solving, rapid response, and making sure rural Alabama has a seat at the table.
Whatโs the best way for co-op members to voice their concerns to their legislators?
The best approach depends on the person, but in general:
โข Phone calls are highly effective because they create a personal connection and show the issue matters enough to reach out directly.
โข Emails are good for clarity and details, especially when members want to provide background or share how an issue affects them.
โข In-person visits โ whether at the State House or back home in the district โ are the most impactful because lawmakers remember faces and conversations.
Most importantly: Knowing your subject matter and civility matter more than the method of contact.
How can our members stay informed on the issues important to them?
Members can keep up with legislative developments impacting rural electric cooperatives by:
โข Following AREA on social media for timely updates.
โข Watching or listening to AREAโs โLegislative Updateโ for weekly summaries during session.
โข Reading co-op newsletters and statewide publications.
โข Staying engaged with their local cooperativeโs communications.
The more informed our members are, the stronger our collective voice becomes.
What are your top tips for contacting legislators? (Dos and Donโts)
DO:
โข Be respectful and concise. Lawmakers hear from many people every day.
โข Explain why the issue matters to you personally โ local stories resonate.
โข Mention your cooperative and that you are a constituent.
โข Ask for a specific action, such as supporting or opposing a bill.
โข Follow up with a thank-you, even if they disagree with you.
DONโT:
โข Donโt assume they already understand how an issue affects rural communities โ explain it.
โข Donโt overwhelm them with overly technical details.
โข Donโt contact them only when youโre upset โ build a relationship before thereโs a crisis.
โข Donโt attack or criticize personally โ respectful engagement is far more effective.
