American Engineering Council

Rural electrification now has the support of legislation. The new act provides $42, 000, 000 per year for 10 years for the construction of transmission lines into rural areas and the construction of generating plants where an adequate supply of electricity is not available, or whereit cannot be obtained at what are thought to be reasonable prices. However, present rural electrification commitments range between 5 and 6 million dollars for about 5,000 miles of transmission lines to take care of 17,500 farm families. Money for these extensions is loaned at 3 per cent for 20 years. With few exceptions, these new lines are interconnected with privately owned utilities for their supply of electricity. This trend, bothin volume and in method, is following principles and recommendations earlier made by American Engineering Council committees and staff to the Rural Electrification Administration.