USDA Rural Development's Electric Programs

News Spotlight

Changes for the 2008 Reporting Year: All RUS year-end operating and financial reports for Electric Borrowers are due by March 31, 2009. The RUS Form 7 for 2008 has been modified to report Service Interruptions on Part G in "minutes" per consumer instead of "hours" per consumer. Borrowers should see a bold message at the top of the input screen for Part G that informs the user of this change in the Data Collection System (DCS).

Second Quarter 2009 Municipal Interest Rates Available: See Electric Programs Rates page for information.

2008 Farm Bill: See factsheet for Electric Programs provisions in the 2008 Farm Bill.

Recipients Selected for High Energy Cost Grants: See press release and recipient list.

Changes to Customer Initiated Payment procedures: See Customer Initiated Payments page for information.

The new Data Collection System (DCS) is available for use by borrowers. See the DCS page for information.

Coding Major Development Projects in Work Plans and Loan Applications: See October 5, 2006, letter from James R. Newby, Assistant Administrator.

Dates – Work Plan Completion, Loan Cutoff and Form 7: See July 8, 2008, letter from James R. Newby, Assistant Administrator.

Interested in employment with the Rural Development Electric Programs? See our Employment Opportunities page.

eAuthentication: On May 10, 2006, the Administrator signed a letter to all Electric and Telecommunication borrowers advising them of the need to obtain eAuthentication accounts for certain borrower employees. See the Administrator's letter to Electric and Telecommunications borrowers concerning eAuthentication.

Are you interested in receiving e-mail updates from the Electric Programs , such as information about new or revised publications, Federal Register issuances, and other Electric Programs news? Visit the USDA Rural Development eMail News and Information page to sign up.

Welcome to USDA Rural Development's Electric Programs

Providing reliable, affordable electricity is essential to the economic well-being and quality of life for all of the nation's rural residents. The Electric Programs provide leadership and capital to upgrade, expand, maintain, and replace America's vast rural electric infrastructure. Under the authority of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, the Electric Programs make direct loans and loan guarantees to electric utilities to serve customers in rural areas.

The loans and loan guarantees finance the construction of electric distribution, transmission, and generation facilities, including system improvements and replacement required to furnish and improve electric service in rural areas, as well as demand side management, energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems. Loans are made to corporations, states, territories and subdivisions and agencies such as municipalities, people's utility districts, and cooperative, nonprofit, limited-dividend, or mutual associations that provide retail electric service needs to rural areas or supply the power needs of distribution borrowers in rural areas.

Through the Electric Programs, the Federal government is the majority noteholder for approximately 700 electric systems borrowers in 46 states.

The Electric Programs also provide financial assistance to rural communities with extremely high energy costs to acquire, construct, extend, upgrade, and otherwise improve energy generation, transmission, or distribution facilities.

A fact sheet that describes the Electric Programs is available in both PDF and text formats.

Other highlights of our website are listed below.

Cushion of Credit Accounts: Describes the provisions of Section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (RE Act), as amended.

Waiver of Provisions: Read the May 15, 2001, letter from Blaine Stockton, former Assistant Administrator, Electric Program, to all electric borrowers concerning Waiver of Provisions of RUS Loan Documents - Current Ratio Limitation on Distributions. (Available in PDF and HTML.)

Special Equipment Accounting: Read the November 14, 2000, letter from Kenneth Ackerman, Assistant Administrator, Program Accounting and Regulatory Analysis, to all electric borrowers concerning special equipment accounting procedures. (Available in PDF and HTML.)

Homeland Security: Information on the certifications for Vulnerability and Risk Assessment and Emergency Restoration Plans is available on the Homeland Security page.