Lewis County REC Gets USDA Loan for System Improvements

The Lewis County Rural Electric Cooperative gets a federal loan to make improvements in its infrastructure.

Lewis County REC gets a $12.2 million dollar low-interest loan from USDA Rural Development.

The money will help the coop to build 37 miles of new electric line, improve 26 miles of existing line and replace a number of wooden utility poles in the system, some of which are up to 70 years old.

REC officials say revenue from the sale of electricity to the coop’s membership will pay off the loan.

The Lewis County REC system consists of nearly 2,500 miles of electric lines, serving over 7,000 rural customers in seven northeast Missouri counties, including Clark, Knox, Lewis, Marion and Shelby.