about us
Wild Rose REA is a member-owned, not-for-profit Rural Electrification Association providing safe and reliable power to rural Alberta homes, farms, businesses and communities.
Providing safe and reliable power since 1947, Wild Rose REA owns and operates an electrical distribution system serving more than 2,700 members across five counties. Our work is grounded in reliable service, responsible system investment, local accountability and long-term value for the members and communities we serve.
As a co-operative, Wild Rose REA is owned by its members. Members elect the Board of Directors to act on their behalf and help guide the strategic direction, governance, financial oversight and policy of the Association. As a member, your vote is your voice.
Wild Rose REA exists to serve its members. Our team is focused on delivering safe, reliable power, providing responsive service and making decisions that support the long-term strength of the electrical system and the rural communities that depend on it.
history
Wild Rose REA traces its roots back to 1947, when our first service was built. Like many REAs across Alberta, Wild Rose REA was formed through the cooperation, organization and hard work of rural residents who helped make rural electrification possible.
Many members today have family or community ties to the people who helped pioneer rural electrification in Alberta. Their efforts helped build a resilient member-owned organization that continues to serve the next generation of rural families, farms and businesses.
Today, Wild Rose REA is a fully operational electrical utility serving more than 2,700 members across a distribution system spanning five counties. Its history remains an important reminder of what rural communities can build together and why local ownership continues to matter.
ABOUT REA's
Rural Electrification Associations were created because rural communities needed a practical way to bring electricity to homes, farms and businesses that were not being served in the same way as larger centres. Local residents came together through cooperation, organization and hard work to build the systems their communities needed.
That history remains central to the REA model today.
As an REA, Wild Rose REA is member-owned, locally governed and not-for-profit. This means the Association is focused on serving members, not outside shareholders. Decisions are made with the long-term interests of members in mind, including safe and reliable service, responsible system investment, local accountability and value.
Member ownership also gives Wild Rose REA a direct connection to the communities it serves. Members elect the Board of Directors, participate in the future of the Association and help ensure decisions remain grounded in local needs.
The REA model continues because it keeps service, accountability and member value at the centre. For Wild Rose REA members, local ownership delivers more than electricity. It supports reliable rural service, helps keep value close to home and gives members a voice in the organization that powers their homes, farms, businesses and communities.
Wild Rose REA is also part of Power Co-ops of Alberta, which represents a network of Alberta’s member-owned Rural Electrification Associations and supports the continued strength of the co-operative utility model across the province.
Across Alberta, member-owned power co-operatives consistently demonstrate that the co-operative model can deliver strong operational performance while serving rural areas with challenging geography, weather and infrastructure needs. By keeping decisions focused on members and the communities they serve, Alberta’s power co-ops combine local accountability with high standards for reliability, service and safety.
Key performance indicators across Alberta’s member-owned power co-operatives include:
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Average outage duration below industry standards
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Customer satisfaction scores exceeding 95 per cent
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Safety performance in the top 10 per cent of utilities
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Response time metrics leading the industry
Together, these results demonstrate that member ownership supports more than local control. It can also drive strong service, operational excellence and long-term value for rural communities.
service area
Wild Rose REA serves more than 2,700 members across a rural distribution system that spans five counties:
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Westlock
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Barrhead
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Athabasca
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Lesser Slave River
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Lac Ste. Anne
Our service area includes rural homes, farms, businesses and community spaces that depend on safe, reliable power every day. Serving a large rural area requires practical knowledge, local experience and careful system planning.
2700
Members
79
Years in Business