The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)
NECA is a dynamic national organization serving the management interests of the entire electrical contracting industry. The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is the voice of the $130 billion industry responsible for bringing electrical power, lighting, and communications to buildings and communities across the United States.
NECA traces its origins to the birth of modern electricity. In 1901, a group of electrical contractors met at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY, where a major display of electric power had been installed. These contractors joined together to foster trade and reform abuses within their fledgling industry. Today, NECA continues their work, building on a legacy of protecting the public and making innovation possible.
Electrical contractors perform specialized construction work related to the design, installation, and maintenance of electrical systems. Whether high-voltage power transmission or low-voltage lighting, electrical contractors ensure these systems work in a safe, effective, and environmentally-sound manner. NECA represents electrical contractors from firms of all sizes performing a range of services. While most NECA contractors qualify as small businesses, many large, multinational companies are also members of the association.
NECA’s national office in Bethesda, Md., four regional offices and 119 local chapters across the country support the electrical contracting industry through advocacy, education, research, and standards development. NECA chapters are independently chartered organizations who work with national field representatives to develop effective labor agreements and market initiatives.
NECA is dedicated to enhancing the industry through innovative research, performance standards, progressive labor relations, and workforce recruiting and training. NECA offers the most comprehensive educational opportunities of any electrical association, as well as the industry’s premier trade show and management training. NECA also publishes ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine, the industry’s top source of information on electrical construction.
NECA takes pride in its industry expertise which benefits the Customer NECA contractors strive to be true construction partners with building owners, developers, and general contractors. A NECA contractor is the best resource for any and all electrical needs, including power supply, fiber optics, telecommunications, security systems, wireless networks, and lighting. NECA contractors set industry standards for traditional electrical systems, as well as newer integrated systems. They develop engineered solutions to meet existing and emerging customer needs. They also lead the industry in the practical application of new technologies.
An important aspect of NECA is its labor partnership which ensures fair wages and benefits, as well as a unified skill set and training., This partnership with electrical workers serves the best interests of the industry and NECA customers. NECA’s national office, chapters, and member contractors have long practiced constructive and responsible labor relations in concert with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the world’s oldest and largest union of electrical workers. Peaceful settlement of grievances and jurisdictional disputes are implemented at NECA’s national and local levels through cooperative forums.
NECA members have practiced environmental stewardship and conservation throughout the electrical industry’s evolution. They see the move towards sustainable construction, alternative energies, and building “green” as an important next step in the process. “Green” projects do a great job of giving back to the communities where they are located – the same communities where NECA contractors live and work. Buildings today are defined by their electrical and mechanical systems as much as by their design and materials. To the user, a building’s "environment" is shaped by lighting, climate control and communication networks. The heart and brain of a building are its internal systems. This is why NECA contractors have explored new ways to make these systems as sustainable as possible, and why NECA offers our contractors the tools and resources they need to integrate sustainable construction practices into their current operations.
