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, our 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 a Department of Labor approved, five-year 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, including Solar, Wind, EV charging, and Energy Storage. 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.