The Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) is a service organization and statewide voice for Minnesota's electric utility cooperatives. MREA's 15 employees provide their expertise in service and leadership including: public awareness communications, safety training, legislative research and lobbying, and industry education programs. A member board representing electric co-ops across the state governs MREA. MREA's members, forty-four electric distribution cooperatives and six generation and transmission (G&T) co-ops in Minnesota, serve 780,000 customer meters or about 1.8 million Minnesotans, covering 85 percent of the geographic area of the state. These cooperatives are locally-owned and operated by boards of directors, who are elected by the consumer-members they serve and operate according to the seven cooperative principles. The cooperatives seek to provide electric energy to rural consumers at the lowest possible cost consistent with sound management. They also promote and fund economic development initiatives to create jobs and maintain a high standard of living for rural and suburban Minnesota residents.