The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. Our members provide safe, reliable electricity for 250 million Americans, and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Collectively, the electric power industry supports more than 7 million jobs in communities across the United States and drives economic growth and prosperity. EEI also includes hundreds of industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members.

Our Federal and State Policy Activities

EEI’s member companies are among the most regulated companies in the country, and EEI engages on their behalf with federal and state legislators, regulators, and other policymakers through lobbying, advocacy, and regulatory proceedings, with the goals of providing reliable energy while keeping customer bills as low as possible.

EEI also engages with a range of other industry stakeholders on issues related to grid reliability; cyber and physical security; mutual assistance and disaster response; finance and tax matters; and programs, services, and solutions for electricity customers.

Lobbying Expenditures and Disclosures

EEI reports its lobbying expenses to Congress as required by federal law via the quarterly filing of Lobbying Disclosure Reports. EEI uses the definitions provided by both the Lobbying Disclosure Act and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 162(e) to identify lobbying expenses. This broad approach captures in detail both federal lobbying and state-level lobbying and grassroots advocacy.

Following are links to EEI’s lobbying disclosure reports for 2025:

• Quarter 1 
• Quarter 2
• Quarter 3 
• Quarter 4 

EEI estimates the amount of member dues that likely will be spent on lobbying each year and provides that percentage to members as part of their annual dues invoice. EEI provides the precise percentage at the end of the year after all reports have been filed.

In addition, EEI runs the Political Action Committee (PAC) known as PowerPAC. PowerPAC is funded by contributions made by EEI member companies, member company executives and other employees, and eligible EEI employees. EEI matches employee PowerPAC contributions, directed to the charity of an employee’s choice. 

PowerPAC reports its activities to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) every month as required by law. These reports can be found on the FEC website. 

Contributions

EEI makes contributions to various political and charitable groups, including IRC section 501(c)(4) and section 527 organizations. The amounts for the 501(c)(4) and section 527 organizations are included in the amounts EEI reports to members as lobbying expenses. 

As required, a list of groups is reported on Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. EEI’s most recent Form 990 can be found here.

Standalone Workforce Development and Grid Resilience Initiatives

Some EEI member companies choose to pay for separate activities and programs that fall outside of the core EEI budget. EEI runs these programs for the benefit of these members.

For a fee, members and other electric companies can access a range of employment tests that are validated specifically for job functions within the electric industry, including power plant operators, maintenance and craft positions, power dispatching positions, and customer service representatives, among others. Fees are based on the size of the company. These funds are not used for lobbying or advocacy. More information about the Employment Testing Consortium can be found here. 

In addition, most EEI member companies contribute to the Restoration, Operations, and Crisis Management Program (Restore Power), which focuses on improvements to industry-wide responses to major outages; continuity of industry and business operations; and EEI’s all hazards (storms, wildfires, cyber, etc.) support and coordination of the industry during times of crisis. Contributions to Restore Power depend on the number of customers a member company has, with a maximum contribution of $15,000 annually. These funds are not used for lobbying or advocacy.

In 2006, federal energy regulators approved the Spare Transformer Equipment Program (STEP), an electric industry program that strengthens the sector’s ability to restore the nation’s transmission system more quickly in the event of a terrorist attack. STEP represents a coordinated approach to increasing the industry’s inventory of spare transformers and to streamlining the process of transferring those transformers to affected companies in the event of a transmission outage caused by a terrorist attack. To participate in STEP, members make an annual voluntary contribution of not more than $8,500. These funds are not used for lobbying or advocacy. More information about STEP can be found here.

Affiliated Organizations and Foundations

EEI has two associated IRC section 501(c)(3) organizations: The Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) and The Thomas Alva Edison Foundation (Edison Foundation).

EEI member companies can choose to support these organizations via separate voluntary contributions. To learn more about these groups, visit:

• The Center for Energy Workforce Development
• The Edison Foundation