The leading trade associations representing America's electrical supply chain, including manufacturers, distributors, and installers, united to ensure that lawmakers at the state and local levels keep the power on for everyone as they make decisions related to the current COVID-19 health crisis.

In a joint letter to the National Governors Association, National League of Cities, National Conference of State Legislators, National Association of Towns and Townships, the United States Conference of Mayors, and the National Association of Counties, electroindustry leaders urged state and local officials to heed the guidance issued last week by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security categorizing workers in the electrical manufacturing supply chain as essential.

In their joint letter, the CEOs of the National Association of Electrical Distributors, National Electrical Contractors Association, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and Independent Electrical Contractors stated that "our joint industries must continue to operate to support installed essential equipment and critical infrastructure … to ensure power systems and applications are made, installed, maintained, and/or repaired appropriately in a timely manner."

Furthermore, electroindustry leaders reiterated that "all critical infrastructure, including hospitals, businesses, and emergency services rely on electricity. Consequently, any delay caused by confusion about what is an essential business could delay access to necessary supplies and contractors needed to get the job done. To do otherwise will lead to additional confusion and unnecessary disruptions to society and undermine the confidence Americans have in their policymakers to make rational policy decisions during this pandemic."

Follow this link to view a copy of the joint letter.

The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) is the trade association for the $70+ billion electrical distribution industry. Through networking, education, research, and benchmarking, NAED helps electrical distributors increase profitability and improve the channel. NAED membership operates in more than 5,100 locations internationally.

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is the voice of the $171 billion electrical construction industry that brings power, light, and communication technology to buildings and communities across the U.S. NECA contractors are the technical professionals responsible for the most innovative and safest electrical construction in the U.S.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) represents nearly 325 electrical equipment and medical imaging manufacturers that make safe, reliable, and efficient products and systems. Our combined industries account for 370,000 American jobs in more than 6,100 facilities covering every state. These industries produce $124 billion in shipments and $42 billion in exports of electrical equipment and medical imaging technologies per year.

Established in 1957, the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) is a trade association representing 3,500 members with more than 51 chapters and training centers nationwide. Headquartered in Arlington, Va., IEC is the nation's premier trade association representing America's independent electrical and systems contractors. IEC National aggressively works with the industry to establish a competitive environment for the merit shop—a philosophy that promotes the concept of free enterprise, open competition, and economic opportunity for all.