The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has unveiled an investment of US$1.6bn to support 46 projects that will improve rural electric infrastructure, operations and reliability of electricity across 24 states as per the USDA's electric programme (Electric Program). These investments could benefit more than 7 million customers and will help to build or upgrade 5,833 miles (roughly 9,387 km) of power lines across the country. They also include US$307m of investments for smart grid technologies, which are meant to improve system operations and monitor grid security.
The USDA Electric Program makes direct loan and loan guarantees to electric utilities (both retail and wholesale power providers) present and serving customers in rural areas. This new wave of funding comes after the USDA announced another US$398m of support across 13 states in September 2018. The funds were expected to benefit an estimated 347,000 customers.