John Padalino, Acting Administrator, USDA Rural Utilities

New Orleans, LA, U.S.A. --- (METERING.COM) --- February 21, 2013 - In its latest round of funding for improvements to the generation and transmission facilities of rural electric cooperatives and utilities the U.S. Department of Agriculture has included more than $8 million for smart grid technology.

The recipients of funding are:
Bowie-Cass Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TX) – $672,875
Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ND)– $549,994
Cotton Electric Cooperative, Inc. (OK) – $1.3 million
Farmers Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation (KY) – $412,541
Flint Hills Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Inc. (KS) – $22,000
Northern Electric Cooperative (SD, ND)– $902,512
Runestone Electric Association (MN) – $379,100
Southeast Colorado Power Association (CO) – $600,000
Sumter Electric Membership Corporation (GA) – $500,000
West Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SD)– $314,487
Wiregrass Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AL) – $100,452
Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FL) – $1.34 million

“In his State of the Union Address last week, President Obama said that in America we have 'an aging infrastructure badly in need of repair' and these investments help to address our country's infrastructure challenges,”said USDA Rural Utilities acting administrator John Padalino. “Upgrading rural infrastructure sets the stage for economic development, because access to reliable, affordable electricity is essential to rural job creation.”

The funding, part of a total funding of $330 million, are provided by USDA's Rural Utilities Service.