An Introduction to NECA

For more than 100 years, NECA has been at the forefront when it comes to educating the public, supporting those who work in the electrical field and establishing safety standards for homes, businesses and industry as well as professional standards for electrical designers, engineers and workers.

What Does NECA Stand For?
“NECA” is an acronym for the National Electrical Contractors Association. On another level however, what this organization stands for is summed up in its original charter when it was first established at the turn of the last century: “The fostering of trade among electrical contractors…to reform abuses…to settle differences between its members…and to promote more enlarged and friendly discourse among its members.”

A Short History of NECA
Scientists and engineers have been experimenting with electricity for thousands of years, of course – but by the 1880s, this form of energy was finally being put to practical use as gas lights, oil lamps and candles increasingly gave way to the new technology. As is usually the case with new technology however, there was virtually no regulation and little control when it came to standardization and the training of electrical workers. The organization was founded by a group of electrical contractors at the 1901 Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York in order to address these issues.

What Are The Functions of NECA?

In addition to establishing professional standards and promoting education and research, NECA works with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in the development and negotiation of labor contracts while representing electrical contracting businesses ranging from small, family-owned firms to large multi-national corporations.

In addition, NECA has a Government Affairs Office that monitors legislation, communicates with lawmakers and lobbies on behalf of constituents though its own political action committee, ECPAC (Electrical Construction Political Action Committee).