Provide the leadership, expertise and coordination necessary to strengthen legislative and regulatory relations for its members; to focus resources on communications and public information regarding the vital role of rural electric cooperatives in enhancing the quality of life of all Montanans; and to coordinate strong safety, director, and employee training programs on issues of current concern to MECA member systems.MECA is a not-for-profit, statewide trade association representing 25 consumer-owned electric distribution cooperatives and three generation and transmission cooperatives serving more than 400,000 people across Montana and in the Dakotas, Wyoming and Idaho. Our cooperatives’ service areas cover all 56 Montana counties. Each cooperative is customer-owned, locally controlled and not-for-profit. MECA (also commonly referred to as Statewide), is headquartered in Great Falls, Montana along the banks of the Missouri River. Formed by electric cooperatives in 1940, MECA performs many vital functions for its members. Including: