For Release: Thursday, May 31, 2007
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE TO RECEIVE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT

Washington - U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) announced today that the Southwestern Electric Cooperative has been awarded a $1,268,749 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The federal funds, allocated to the State of Illinois for distribution, are in response to the severe winter storm that caused power outages that affected Southwestern customers in Bond, Fayette, Macoupin, Madison and St. Clair counties. Damage estimates totaled $1,691,666. Workers had to replace nearly 30,000 linear feet of power line, 118 power poles and five transformers.

"The storms of this past winter had a devastating effect on a number of our communities,” said Costello. "I will continue to support funding that assists in the rebuilding process.”

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