Bringing together the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134 electricians and the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) of Chicago and Cook County, Powering Chicago is an electrical industry labor-management partnership that invests in consistently better construction, better careers, and better communities within the metro Chicago region.

Employing the latest technology, Powering Chicago’s members are elevating industry performance through their commitment to safety, level of experience and reliability, while also investing in the future of skilled labor through an innovative apprenticeship program. In 2007, ECA Chicago and IBEW Local 134 opened the newly renovated IBEW/NECA Technical Institute, a state-of-the-art 120,000-square-foot building consisting of 12 large classrooms, eight extensive laboratories and a full-size residential and commercial mock-up in which apprentices learn the trade. The institute also features the first solar electricity training facility in Illinois, providing apprentices with the opportunity to learn the latest best practices related to renewable energy. Apprentices take part in a rigorous five-year program that prepares them to uphold Powering Chicago’s commitment to the highest standards in electrical construction, while also securing lifelong career opportunities.

Powering Chicago takes part in more than 100 charitable activities each year and plays a major role in rebuilding Chicago neighborhoods and giving back to the communities in which its members live and work.