Indiana Electric Cooperatives hosted its annual Legislative Appreciation Dinner on Monday, November 17, bringing cooperative leaders and state lawmakers together ahead of this year’s Legislative Organization Day.

The dinner is a long-standing tradition and an important element of IEC’s government relations efforts. Held each year the evening before lawmakers convene for the upcoming session, the event provides a welcoming environment for legislators and cooperative leaders to build and strengthen relationships.

The focus of the evening is on conversation and allowing cooperative leaders and legislators to discuss shared priorities, emerging issues, and the needs of the communities they collectively serve.

“The dinner continues to be a valuable opportunity for us to connect with legislators,” said Ryan Heater, vice president of government relations at Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “Developing strong relationships allows us to better advocate for our members as the legislative session gets underway.”

For many lawmakers, this dinner has become a reliable touchpoint with Indiana’s electric cooperatives and a positive way to begin the session ahead. As cooperative leaders and state officials work together on important energy policy matters in the months ahead, the conversations and connections established during this event will help support informed decision-making and continued collaboration.